Baby Ansley

Ansley Lynn was born on November 4th. Weighing a whopping 9 lbs. 5 oz. making her, by far, the biggest baby I have had. I had heard from a few birdies that it was announced at church that she was 28 inches long. Ha! Wouldn't that be a sight to see? :) She really was only 20 1/2 inches long. So all who may have thought she just might be a freak of nature, from what they heard over the pulpit, rest assured she is normal. :) I think I will be getting a good chuckle out of that for awhile yet.

She had a hard time breathing a little, so she was a bit purple and had to have a little oxygen.

It was a long and hard labor. 10 hours. It was a longer labor than my previous 3 kid's labors. I was 3 cm. when I went in for my check up that Monday and when I went in on Friday, to be induced, I was 4 cm. dilated and having contractions that were sporadic in their times. So my body was trying to go into labor on its own, but her being sunny side up made it difficult. Sunny side up is pretty painful. I felt it all in my back! I am so glad she decided to eventually turn.

We didn't realize that she was in there kind of funny until I got stuck at 7 cm. for 3 1/2 hrs. I was having contractions that felt like transition, but I wasn't dilating at all. It was hard to stay focused and get through it all.  I was determined NOT to get an epidural and NOT to get a C-section unless I absolutely had to, but I wanted to continue the fight.

I have to admit that those contractions were beating me and I was having a hard time hanging on. So I did get some Nubain to help me relax more and we did numb around the uterus...those shots were NOT fun either, but helped when it was time to push. By that point I was so ready to be done.
The doctor said that it'll be a turn and burn when she would finally decide to cooperate. He was right because, after a LOT of squatting and other laboring positions and much help from my friend/doula, Wendy, and my husband we were able to get her to turn somehow and she was out in about 15 minutes. If only she could have done that earlier, like before noon. :) We all thought (us, nurses and doctor) that she would be out by noon no problem. Teach me to ever have an idea of what things might be and bank on the "more kids you have the earlier and faster the labors" mentality (though true for a lot of  OTHER people).

My sister-in-law Christy was able to be there as well as Alyssa and Bria. Towards the end it was hard for Bria to see me in pain so she went out with Aunt Christy, but Alyssa stayed and loved every minute. She was so intrigued and as soon as Ansley was coming out she said "Woah! Mom you are doing GREAT!" After it was all done Lys teary eyed and by my bedside said that she felt the spirit and how special having babies was and was grateful to have been able to watch Ansley being born.


I was sad that Christy had to go out, but am grateful that she loves my kids so much and was sensitive to what Bria needed since I was sort of out of commission at that moment.
Later, after Bria came back in the room all calm, she said "I guess all that pain was worth it because you have such a  beautiful baby now." She also got teary eyed when telling me that it was hard to see me hurting because I am her mom and she really loves me, but that she is glad I did have Ansley and knows it is worth it.


Needless to say they are smitten with her. All the kids adore her. Even little Laney-bug, but she isn't happy with me. I can't give her all the attention I used to and she is testing the waters quite a bit with me. Hopefully it won't last too long, but at least she is okay with the baby. That is really what matters in the end.




Now little Ansley is one week old and such a sweet baby. She is most definitely a keeper!

Even Misha thinks so too!