Lander's Birth Story

 I was due May 30th. I expected to be pregnant a few extra days, but that doesn't make the wait any easier. Jules (my mom) came a few days before on Memorial day to be sure and not miss little man's grand entrance. 

On the 2nd Ryan took me out on a bumpy 4 wheeler (quad! ;) ) ride to try to kick things into gear. 

Surprise, I woke on the 3rd still feeling  mostly fine. Maybe a little achy and a little nauseous. 4 days over due.

About 9am I started having contractions. 

They were bouncing from 7/8 minutes apart to even 2 minutes apart. At around 11 they even ranged to 10minutes apart. Jules had taken all the kids to an activity at the library at 10am. I let Ryan know and called Megan(midwife). She had just finished up a morning birth. We would let her know when we wanted her to come. Ryan headed home from work.

Jules and the older kids got back around 1pm. About 2 o'clock I texted my friend April (love you!) and let her know that Jules was going to bring the kids to her. Ryan started prepping some of the birth supplies between helping me during contractions. 

By 2pm, contractions were more intense and Ry and Jules were doing a lot of counter pressure on my lower back and hips. I was leaning on the yoga ball. Once Ry saw my 4th contraction in a row that was 3 minutes apart, he called the midwife. 

That was probably about 4pm. They arrived around 4:15pm and worked on getting the birth pool warmer. 

Contractions were right on top of each other and I started to feel my body pushing. Ry got my socks and pants off me and I walked on my knees the 2-3 feet to the birth pool and got in. 

From getting in the birth pool to holding my baby was 3 1/2 minutes. 

I immediately felt my body open up and I could feel his head. Then I felt the sac broken and held onto a length of it. 

I held the top of his head as it came out. I felt the cord was wrapped around him and said, "cord" mid push to the midwife. She said to wait until the baby was all the way out to detangle it. On the next wave/push, he was out. I quickly slipped the cord over his head and pulled the cutest baby up out of the water and repositioned myself to lean back against the side of the pool. I rubbed his back and kissed him. His lungs were not clear and wasn't getting a good clear breath. Megan said I could cover his nose and mouth with my mouth and suck to help clear his airways or she could put the mask on him and push the it down to clear his airways. 

I used my mouth over his airways and sucked a few times and got some of it cleared out, but then I had her use the mask also, and then he was much clearer. 

To birth the placenta, Ry lifted me up out of the water and gravity helped me to get it out. Then we slowly moved over to lay on the couch. He started to nurse and look around. 

What a beautiful day!

Ryan cut the cord and after a while, we slowly made our way upstairs. 

Lander had his newborn checks done, we ordered Cafe Rio and Jules went and got the food and the excited brothers and sisters!

Everyone wanted to hold him. Birdie got nervous and held him a little while after eating. 

After a few hours we settled on his name. We added Zachary, making it a double middle name for our little boy. 

We love you Lander Zachary Valgard!

Present at Birth: Me!, Ry (Dad), Grandma Jules, Midwife Megan, Assistants Taylor and DeLis

7lbs. 1oz,  20 1/2in  4:55pm

Birdie's Birth Story

 3 days past due!

Around 4am I knew this was probably going to be the day. Through out the day I had very randomly spaced, but strong, contractions. 

We watched general conference and did Easter egg coloring pages. I laid down to relax after conference and the rest of the family went to play in the yard. 

Ryan came in to chat and just about 5pm I started to time contractions. They were around 10 minutes apart. After a few I told Ryan he needed to bring the kids inside, clean them up, and feed them dinner, while we still had time for that. 

I worked through contractions in the living room while they ate. Once my food was ready, I was too busy and didn't eat. I did have a little protein drink.

After the first hour of contractions, I texted Megan, our midwife to tell her. The contractions were inconsistent, so she told me to do side-lying release and inversion. Once I did those (which took about an hour in total), contractions got to more around every 2-3 minutes. 

Ryan got kids ready for bed and prepped the birth bed and the birth pool in Sharlee's room. Ryan had walked out of the room while filling the tub. We heard a splash and as I was in the bathroom, I heard the commotion. Laddie had leaned over the edge and fallen into the birth pool. Ryan changed his diaper and jammies. Then he had the boys get into bed and Sharlee was set in their room to help go to sleep. She told them a story, but I swear the Holy Ghost was already very present. Both boys fell asleep very fast, without making a noise. 

Just before the pool incident, Ryan had called the midwife and asked her to head over. This was about 8:30. 

I was laboring in the hallway. The boys had been stressing Ryan out and when he was changing Laddie he was saying he was going to ask the neighbors to take the boys. Thankfully everything calmed down quickly. I felt very peaceful about keeping the kids home with us. 

The midwife and assistants arrived around 9 and quietly bustled about filling the tub to be warmer, etc. 

Sharlee and Ryan were helping me in the hallway. Sharlee brought me my water. Pretty soon they asked me to get in the birth pool, if that's where I wanted to be. 

Ryan helped me up and I stepped out of my shorts and shirt and got in the water. As the contractions kept coming, I felt very overwhelmed/scared. I released that energy by crying. Ryan leaned in close to me, placed his hands on my head and gave me a priesthood blessing. 

I am so grateful for the gifts and blessings of the priesthood. 

While I was crying, Sharlee stepped out, because she was scared. 

We had talked about if she got scared or overwhelmed she could go watch a movie, etc. The midwife chatted with her in the hallway and she chose to come back in. 

I reached down and pulled away membrane. I heard the midwifes take note of that. Ryan whispered to Sharlee that my water broke. Her sweet, quiet squeal and, "I'm so excited!", was so cute. 

I loved having her support. I reached down and felt a head full of hair!

I guided my baby through, birthing her head. A few waves/contractions and her shoulders were still not out. From behind the midwife helped pull her out. Her shoulders were more back, than tucked forward and were a little stuck. I got hold of her and lifted her to my chest and leaned back against the pool! Yay! Sweet baby. 

After some rubbing, she still needed some help to breathe clearer. They had Ryan hold her head down and rub/pat her back. She cried and I got to hold her again. After checking her again, they determined it would help to use the bag and mask. After 3"breaths", she had a stronger cry. 

I held her and nursed her. 

Contractions intensified as I worked to birth the placenta. There was one part stuck/still attached, finally broke free, and I handed it into the pan for the midwife. 

They gave me some juice, and after a few more minutes they helped me up and slowly through the hallway to my bed. It was so sweet to have Daddy and Sharlee with us! Soon it was time to cut the cord. Sharlee said she would do it. I was crying with intense after pains while they were doing it. Ryan said Sharlee was very hesitant, but he helped her do it. 

The next day when I was talking to her about all of it, she said, "It hurt you so bad!" She thought I was crying from her cutting the umbilical cord. I explained it to her and assured her that she did not hurt me or the baby. She seemed Very relieved after our conversation. 

About 12am we shooed a reluctant Sharlee to bed. 

Midwife Ashley read her a book and told her a story and she fell asleep. 

Sweet Birdie Clara was born at 9:50pm, after a full weekend of waiting and hoping for her through general conference. 

7lbs. 12oz. 20 1/2in long.  Beautiful, dark hair.