Baylee's Birth Story

This week we also have a very special bonus episode!
Many of you have requested my (Baylee) birth story so I thought I would share! Thank you, to all of our listeners who have been so supportive during this exciting time - it is so fun to be able to share some of our real lives here.

Another part of our Metabolism Makeover team is growing as well! Fellow MM Coach Elle Merrill (who also runs the MM Instagram page) shared recently that her and her husband are starting their IVF journey. To support them, family members purchased a 1000 piece "We are the Village" puzzle. Each puzzle piece is being "sold" for $20. Each purchased piece will have the name of the purchaser written on it. Once the puzzle is complete it will hang in Baby Merrilll's nursery as a reminder of the village that supports them. If you would like to purchase a puzzle piece you can venmo your donation to @Elle-Merrill.

Click play, sip back, and be empowered.

Transcript

0:23

Hello, everyone. Welcome to this week's bonus episode. This is Bailey and this has been a requested topic again. Some of you wanted to hear my birth story. So first of all, I just want to say thank you for every single one of you who have checked in with me, asked how I am doing as to how baby is doing. Gannon is absolutely amazing. He he's the best little boy ever. And. I'll say I'm doing better. Postpartum has been a little different than what I expected, which we'll get into, but just know I appreciate every single one of you. Checking in. I. Fully recognize how great my. The village of support is my community. Not only with my family that is here in person. I'm extremely lucky to have such a great family that has helped with Gannon that has helped bring us dinner. Helping with cleaning the house. And I have a very supportive fiance as well. So we've been doing, we're figuring it all out. We're been good at tag teaming things. So it's been interesting and fun trying to find our new normal, but this episode, like I said, I'm going to talk about my birth story a little bit since, since this was requested. I know a lot of you are curious. But it is fun to hear that you guys. Are interested in kind of more of our personal life and just these little fun updates. So as always let us know if there is topics like this that you want us to talk about. Let's stay then. So I was due on July 3rd. That was my original due date. And since the beginning Baby had been measuring big, probably two to three weeks ahead of time. Especially his head, his belly and his legs. And. So we kinda knew he was probably going to be a bigger baby, but I was also measuring right on track the entire time, like my belly personally. So they weren't totally convinced that he was going to be as big as ultrasound was predicting, but. I'm for reference I'm five, three. I'm pretty small. And petite and dad, he is six, three. And so. There was still, he still had some genes that could make him a taller person. And. So as we progressed, he continued to measure big and it was actually kind of looking back. It was a really good pregnancy the whole time I really worked to stay active. I'm so glad I did. I did stop strength training, probably like the last. Two months. And I mainly just focused on walking because I. Ended up being like in a lot of pain. I was having some leg pains going on, not too sure what that was about. They think that maybe he was just sitting so low and hitting a nerve. I always explained it like Barbie doll legs. Like, if you were to take a Barbie doll and just split their legs in half. That's what I felt like my legs were doing. So I stopped during training. I really just focused on my walking. And I'm so glad I did, because I think it really just helped me have a good pregnancy physically, but also mentally. Fun fact, I actually went and walked a mile. The day I was in labor. So. With that on June 5th, I had my doctor's appointment at this point. I was going once a week. And it was the first time I was being checked to see if I was dilated. I was actually dilated to four centimeters. And doctor is very surprised, especially with me being a first time mom being so progressed and I was 36 weeks. I believe. So. It's still a little early 37 weeks is what they would like. It's more considered kind of full term. So. She did say she's like, honestly, if you go, it won't be the worst thing because he's measuring bigger. So not too concerned there, but it could be any time now, like go home, pack your hospital bags. I was like, oh, Okay. Like this could be happening. And I work with a bunch of chiropractors and some nurses and such therapists. So lots of healthcare professionals. And I came back to work in the, like, you're going to have a baby by like this week. I was like, oh, Okay. So I was like, kind of preparing myself, we prepared. Everything else. Got the car seat in. Well that at any time now turned out to be a lot longer than expected. I was four centimeters dilated for a little over two weeks. So on June 19th, they did the membrane sweep, which if you have not had that done yet. Whew. It it's definitely not fun. And you feel terrible afterwards. It was a long day at work, following that. And on June 21st, it was a Friday and I started having some more contractions. I hadn't been having Braxton Hicks for probably about a month at this point. And. On June 21st. I started getting more consistent contractions. I had already gone to the hospital twice for like false alarm type things. And the last time I had gone was the weekend before. And I think I was a little bit more cautious because I knew I was already at four centimeters. So I didn't. One to like wait too long. And I also didn't know what to expect. So. I would try and time some contractions, but they weren't ever ones that were super painful or just like, oh, this is kind of uncomfortable. The last time you went. I had a very bad experience with a doctor on call. And to the point where she, she just kind of made me feel like an idiot, honestly. And she's like, I don't really know why you came. It was. I don't know. I thought I was having closer contractions. Apparently, I think they were just more kind of Braxton Hicks. And she's like, well, I mean, you can stay here and see what happens or just go home. I don't see any reason to keep you. Lots of other things were said, and it just really rubbed me the wrong way. And basically she was like, really you're going to know, because you're not going to be able to breathe. So of course me, I get in the car and tell Josh, I'm like, all right, we're not going back to the hospital until I am passed out. Not breathing. So on the 21st I did, I was having more consistent contractions there about five to seven minutes apart throughout the day. And if it's base, I'll be like more like seven minutes more often. I went on a walk. I finished out four of my clients with like, I just want to finish them. Like, I'm good. Like. What else am I going to do? Sit here. So had contractions throughout the day, towards the end of the night, they were more consistently like five minutes. They got to, some of them are about three minutes. So we were kind of like, Okay, let's start to get ready. And, but it was still to the point where I was like, well, I can still breathe. Then. As the night progressed, they did get more intense. And by like 10 o'clock that night, I had a few that did kind of put me into tears. And so I knew, I was like, okay, we're probably getting close 10 o'clock comes. And then they spaced out again to like 10 minutes apart. I was like, what in the world? Guess we're not going anywhere. So Josh was like, well, let's go lay down. Let's get some sleep in case like it is almost time. So he falls asleep. I'm laying in bed. I have a few more contractions again. 10 minutes apart. These ones are super painful though. So by the third one, I remember laying there and I was contemplating. Should I just wake Josh up? I know they're farther apart, but they're super painful. Not even 30 seconds later, my water broke. And. It was the weirdest feeling ever. It was like a volcano of war. I was like, what, what, what, what, like, what is happening? Wait Josh up. I'm like, ah, I think my waters broke. And just interest kept coming out and he said he heard it pop. I don't really. I remember it popping. I just remember feeling like a relief of pressure. And I was like, oh, this kind of feels nice. So I get up, I take a shower. I'm like, oh, now I feel gross. And so I'm just hanging out and he's like, we need to go, like, what are you doing? Like I'm taking shower. Well then. It, we got a little bit more painful. If we say the show is like, oh God, we got to go. So I get out. My I'm still like leaking fluids. I changed clothes. Get in the car with packed house and everything. I leaked. I don't the fluids. Until we got to the hospital all through the hospital to go up to her room. I was like, I'm leaving a snail. True. Basically. And on the way to the hospital, I, for a second thought I was going to have the baby in the car having lots of pressure. And then we came up, there was a huge wreck. I, so I was like, all right, well, we're going to be stuck in traffic and I'm gonna have a baby in the car. And I would be traumatized for my first. Child. But we actually did not get stuck in any traffic. We made it to the hospital. It was about 1130. Once I got there at six and a half centimeters dilated. I was nine centimeters. By like 3:00 AM. So we started doing practice pushes. I was able to get my epidural and everything. When I got there, I did do the epidural. I got my practice pushes in. We did a couple, and then all of a sudden the nurse who was actually Josh's stepsister. So she got to deliver her nephew. So that was really cool, but it was nice to have someone I was familiar with kind of hanging out with, with us and lead me through what I was doing. I did not take any birthing classes. We just, it was a lot going on at the time. I didn't take him and we just went in and everything turned out fine. Do my practice pushes. And she was like, oh, okay, let's stop pushing because he is coming out. So they had already called the doctor. He was moving a little slower, cause I was a first time mom. And so he didn't expect me to progress quickly. I don't think. So we had to wait for the doctor. And Josh and my mom are in the room with me and they could see Gannon's hedge, just kind of sitting there, sat there for about 40 minutes. Waiting for the doctor and the whole time I was like, just watching the clock. It's like another 10 minutes past. I'm like, I'm just going to push, like, what are they going to do? Yell at me for putting out my baby. So I was watching the clock, just waiting for this doctor. He comes in. We're talking and he's like, so I hear this might be an eight pound baby. I was like, well, that's what they're estimating. But looking at you, I think six, maybe seven pounds. I don't think you're going to be pushing out eight pound or like okay, great. So then. They. We're like, if you were still feeling pressure, I was like how the pressure has not gone away. If you're still feeling pressure, go ahead and push. So I started pushing for pushes and he was out by the time his shoulder and heads were head, was out the doctor like, oh, wow. This is an eight pound baby. And I actually got to, once he was halfway out, I was able to pull them out the rest of the way, which is really cool. Josh thought it was crazy, but it was really neat to be able to do. And apparently this doctor likes to have moms do that. And I feel like I don't know what his reasoning is. Maybe it's just because it's something neat to experience. But I think it really helped me just to be distracted while I was getting like, stitched up, like everything else was happening. Cause then I just got to enjoy my brand new baby. So he was born at five 19. Yeah, and it pretty quickly were, especially for my first one, after that we had been up for 41 hours straight because I mean, we had woke up for work that Friday. Had the baby at five 19. And then it was a whole day of, we had visitors just in all with the baby. And so it was a very long. In continuous day. We did have him go sit with the nurses for a little bit, which was some advice that I was given. I did feel a little guilty at first. I'm like, I just had you and I'm just going to send you away. But. I was exhausted and I was like, I just need like two hours of sleep. So he did go with the nurses and he did just fine. He's been such a good baby. He's very snugly. And loves to be wrapped up. He actually loves being outside too. Like. It's like a light switch. If he's upset, we can just go outside and he's like, oh, I'm fine. Now. So it loves me outside, I guess. It's good that he's a summer baby. And I learned that he's been really good growing boy. He. It's definitely a good eater. Which is great as a dietician mom. And then I would say for myself, because I have had a lot of people check in, I'm doing better. Like I said at the beginning, postpartum was not what I expected. I feel like mentally, I struggled a little bit during pregnancy and right after birth, because. During pregnancy, they had some concerns with this kidney. So we had to do a couple check-ins on that. And then. They also had concerns with him being so big. Like, was he going to get stuck? Was he at risk for diabetes that I have gestational diabetes. So there was a couple of things going on through there throughout the pregnancy. And then once he was born, they found a slight heart murmur that they were watching. Because he was so big, they were concerned about blood sugars and then he's had some weird breathing. And then, because he came out so quickly, he also swallowed some fluids. So just a couple of things you were watching there. And it just, it felt like everything just kept adding up. So it was. Really hard on me mentally, especially as being a first time mom, and just like not knowing what to expect. And I just felt like it was one thing after the other. And then as far as me, like, I really, I really wanted to breastfeed. As a dietician and just a human in this world. It's been engraved in my head that breastfeeding is best. Like this is the best thing you can do for your kid. So I really wanted to do this. However at the hospital. I, I started trying breastfeeding. And at first with his blood sugar checks, it was really challenging because we had to time everything really right. So I was struggling there and we ended up doing some formula. Why we're there? And then I was also struggling to kind of have them latch. Like I just didn't know what I was doing. And I did have some help, so I felt a little bit better, but. By like day three. I just, I absolutely hated breastfeeding. It was, I don't know how to explain it. But. I just hated the feeling. Make me sick to my stomach. I would get a headache. I would just cry the whole time. I did not like it at all. So we did. Formula for the rest of that night. And the next morning before we went to his first pediatrician visit. While there, I kind of asked about thoughts on breastfeeding formula, like what she recommends and. I had another bad experience with this doctor. And she was basically like, well, whoever told you breastfeeding was easy. Like they're lying to you. I'm like, I'm not saying I just want to quit because it's too hard for me. I didn't expect to, just to be in a walk-on park. So then I had some guilt there. Like was I not doing enough for my kiddo? So I was like, okay, well, I'm just going to pump. So I started pumping. And so at this point, pumping and then bottle feeding. And it was a lot, it was super draining. I exhausted. Especially like night times with we were getting up, he was getting changed. She was getting fed. I had to pump like, it was a whole thing and I was pumping every two hours. And. It was a lot, like I said, and especially mentally. Oh, my. I, it was just too much. So I decided to start weening and introducing formula for him. And then I actually had mastitis. So I had mastitis on my left side. A week ago. Cured from that. I was on antibiotics. Got that all taken care of felt really good for four days. And now I have on my right side. So just. Like I said, I've been struggling mentally. With feeling like it's been one thing after the other, but I'm hopeful that we're on the. Uphill slope, downhill slope, whatever it is that we're getting better. I'm feeling much better today. I'm on another round of antibiotics. But I think. Where, some of you may relate to this as well is with breastfeeding. Like I, like I said, it's been great. That it's the best thing to do. But sometimes. It's okay. To make decisions that are going to be more beneficial in the long run. Pumping. It was not working for me. And that's okay. We don't have to do every single thing. The like a plus way. Sometimes we can just be a people. And at the end of the day, my baby's getting fed. He's happy. He's been transitioning very well to formula, which I'm very grateful for. And. I know everything's going to be okay. Right now. It could be a struggle at some points. I've had a few breakdowns and. I'm ready to enjoy my time with my baby. And these next few weeks that I have off work. So that is my birth story. I hope you enjoyed this episode. And. I appreciate it. Like I said, I appreciate every single one of you who have reached out who have checked on me. And. It's kind of funny, you guys like to hear about our personal lives and we get to share with our little mocktail minutes community. Don't forget to check out our episode with Katie this week as well. We cover postpartum, but also just mom life in general. So even if you just, if you didn't just have a baby, it's still going to be beneficial to you. Have a great rest of your day and we'll talk soon. Bye.