My Birth Story

Luke Charles Hammagren's Birth Story

I will spare you the long version (I am not even done writing it in my journal-and am at 12 pages :)) I cannot believe this is the SHORT version!!

Ten months ago, when finding out we were pregnant, I wanted a scheduled c-section with my OB Doctor. At the practice I go to, there are of course the doctors who assist in any complicated births, surgeries, etc., but also certified nurse midwives. I was very hesitant to have a midwife so I saw my OB for the first half of pregnancy. I was scared of our baby's shoulder getting stuck, being posterior, or not fitting through my pelvis. (I was only four pounds and we knew this baby might be on the larger side) I seriously was fearful of giving birth and only heard horror birth stories. I had no idea that it would be a transformational experience. After I relaxed a bit, I started seeing the midwives (there are now three at Samaritan OBGYN-Clare, Katie, and Susan) and fell. in. love. I began to research late in pregnancy the benefits to natural childbirth and decided it was something I wanted to try. I also fell in love with the midwives and prayed I would have an uncomplicated labor and delivery so one of them could share in the experience. I started reading (at the suggestion of Susan) "Ina Mays Guide to Childbirth." It is all about natural childbirth. Kinda out there for some, but I fell in love with the idea of allowing my body, how God made it, to do what it was supposed to do. We hired a doula (a childbirth coach kind of for the mom and dad-not a medical provider). Her name is Jenney. I decided this around 38 weeks-pretty late in the game. Jenney spent a few evenings with us writing a birth plan, practicing breathing and relaxation techniques. All the midwives and my OB doctor were shocked at my change of heart; but celebrated my newfound desire.

At my 40 week appointment, I saw one of my favorite midwifes, Katie. I was 2 cm dilated and 80% effaced. She stripped my membranes and everyone told me it wouldn't be long until I would really go into labor. I started having contractions Monday afternoon pretty regularly but nothing excruciating. I had an appointment on Thursday, March 24 (the day after my due date) for her to just strip my membranes again. I did NOT want to be induced but was getting tired of being pregnant. I had regular contractions all week and each night got minimal sleep due to the contractions.

Thursday, March 24, my appointment was at 10am. Erik picked me up from the house (which, of course was a mess!) and we went to see Katie. I was 3 cm dilated and 90% effaced. I broke down in the appointment and said I didn't want to go through the weekend because I just wanted to make sure he was okay. Thankfully, Katie takes all those comments very seriously and wanted to hook me up for a non -stress test to monitor Luke. I was hooked up in the office for 30 minutes and Katie came in to tell us Luke's heart rate was dipping into the sixties and thought everything was okay but wanted us to go to the hospital for further monitoring.

We checked into the hospital at 11:30 am and I was hooked up to another NST. By 1pm, Katie came in and said his heart rate was still having decelerations and that we were not going home. I was so excited at the thought that I was actually going to have a baby, but nervous that I needed to be induced. She was going to break my water to induce labor to have Luke arrive safely. Out the window went my birth plan :-) We called our parents who jumped in the car from Bend and called Jenney, who came to the hospital.

At 4:30, Katie broke my water. Intense contractions started within an hour. (Katie warned me about being induced this way and the intensity of contractions are very different than spontaneously going into labor). I wanted to get into the bathtub, but Katie wanted me to wait till I was 5 cm so it would not slow labor. By 8:30pm I was 5-6 cm and ready to go in the tub. Contractions were "coupling" (one right after another) and I was having a ton of back pain. I asked that no one say the "e" word (epidural) because I knew I would take it if offered. By the time I got into the tub, I knew I needed relief and was exhausted. I now wanted the epidural immediately. Luckily, the anesthesiologist was on the OB floor and by 10:15 pm I was all hooked up. The anesthesiologist did a great job because I could still feel pressure of contractions and move my legs. The epidural did not take in my low back. When Katie came in, she felt the baby and said he was posterior (sunny side up) and that is what was causing the severe back pain and coupling contractions. They tried to rotate me in lots of positions to turn the baby. I did not want a c-section, but knew it could happen with a posterior baby.

Jenney and Erik encouraged me through the night, massaged my neck and arms, and just stayed with me. The night was long and exhausting. At 4am, Katie checked me and I was complete. I started pushing and pushing and pushing. For three long hours, I pushed. I developed a fever at the end, requiring an extra night in the hospital and antibiotics. Towards the end, Katie brought up using a vacuum because I was literally exhausted. I had been up for 48 hours with no sleep. Katie said I had to have three more contractions and then we would talk about the vacuum. Susan (my other favorite midwife) walked in and held my hand and encouraged me through the next contraction. She was kissing my forehead and everyone was telling me that he was almost there. On the second contraction, at 7:06 am, on March 25, Luke Charles Hammagren was born. Erik helped deliver him and put him on my chest. He was perfect and beautiful. 8 pounds 2 ounces, 21.5 inches long. I believe it was because of people praying that Luke turned and ended up not being posterior.

Katie, Erik, Luke and I shortly after birth

As I look back on Luke's birth story, I am amazed at God's provision. It was not at all as I had planned or even thought I wanted, but it was absolutely perfect. Yes, I had an epidural, an IV, an induction, and even a bit of pitocin. My birth plan was thrown out the window early in the process. I have no regrets on the hours of research or hiring a doula because my birth story is exactly what God had planned. Katie made an incredible call to get Luke here safely. The midwives, nurses, and Jenney were the most incredibly kind and wonderful women. I felt so strong and empowered. This was the best day of my life. Erik's strength and encouragement carried me through the long night, and continues today. I am married to an incredible, loving man who is a compassionate, wonderful daddy (who has changed more diapers than I have!!)

Luke is one week old today and I can say that I wish it were last Thursday so I could do it all over again. Giving birth was one of the most incredible, emotional, powerful experiences of my life. I received an email from Susan (the midwife who brought in fresh energy after a LONG night) that said she felt she needed to be there because of her connection to Erik and I (way to make a new mama ball like a baby!) I have spent the week processing this incredible experience and am so thankful for every piece of it. My fear has vanished and I cannot believe I am already saying I would do it again in a heart beat.

Luke is amazing and so is Erik. He is a fabulous daddy who loves Luke more than life. We have had a great week bonding together as a family.

The 10 Most Annoying Things People Say to Pregnant Women

I am the lamest blogger of all time. Here is what I have copied and pasted :-)

The 10 Most Annoying Things People Say to Pregnant Women:

1. Old wives tales as gospel. As scientific as it is, it's annoying when people tell you with certainty what sex the baby will be based on how you're carrying.

2. Manhandling. Suddenly your globe of a stomach becomes public domain. Old women and customers in grocery stores suddenly flock to molest your belly as if it is the most accepted and natural thing in the world. More common than a handshake.

3. Horror stories. While pregnancy brings kinship between women who otherwise had nothing in common, it also brings out their burning desire to regale you with stories of their horrific stories of birth. Never will you hear more about botched episiotomies and days of fruitless labor and stopped baby heartbeats. Why anyone thinks someone with labor on the horizon would want to hear this is beyond me.

4. The just wait until...syndrome. Nothing is less pleasing than to have your current station in pregnancy belittled with just wait until... (insert anecdote here). Sometimes it is only limited to how much worse your pregnancy will get (as if it hasn't been bad in different ways throughout) but it can also extend to just wait until you get no sleep when the baby is here. When does this end? When I have a baby I guarantee I will start hearing about the terrible twos...when I have a 5 year old it will be "Just wait until you have a tween" and then just wait until you have a teenager. Thank you harbingers of doom, but I think I will take my torture one day at a time.

5. The belly reactions. Pregnant women are hormonal; they are seldom happy with their expanding waistline and are self-conscious in regards to their looks. Why do people feel the need to point out how big they are? "Oh my god! You're huge" are NEVER words a woman wants to hear. Similarly, "Are you sure you aren't having twins?" should have a moratorium slapped on it.

6. Unsolicited opinions on birth plans and breast feeding. The debates between no drugs vs. drugs in labor and breastfeeding vs. not breast feeding can be hot ones...but it should be relegated to the no talk zone along with religion and politics. I am sure that everyone feels like their information is true and correct, but it is a personal choice.

7. Ingestion Nazis. The people that watch you like a hawk just waiting for you to eat or drink something that they think is on the no no list. Pregnancy is hard enough without people commenting on nitrates or caffeine. What self respecting pregnant person isn't going to be aware of the do not eat or drink items and the risk associated with each? Everyone's Dr. is different and new information is being uncovered every day.

8. Unsolicited name advice. A name choice is a privilege bestowed upon people carrying and raising the child. Yet, despite varying tastes, everyone wants to weigh in on name choices. Even the most well meaning person offering up names puts the pregnant couple in the uncomfortable position of having to shoot down names. One man's Bertha is another man's treasure.

9. The “expert” syndrome. It seems that some women who have been pregnant, even forty years ago, feel like they know everything there is to know about all pregnancies. Even though all pregnancies are different they feel the need to weigh in of what is normal or not normal in a pregnancy. Even if they are directly contradicting scores of baby books and professionally trained medical workers, they toil on, spreading misinformation and causing panic or feelings of abnormality.

10. Unhelpful weight advice. Yes I know it is better not to gain too much weight. Yes I am aware of how hard it is to take off weight. Yes I know that breast feeding will not melt away my fat. Yes I’m aware that stretch marks are no fun to have. Enough said.

2010 Recap:

Honestly, I am not sure how long I will be able to keep up with this-but I want to try to remember everything with this pregnancy as well as our new adventure with our son being born in 10 weeks. That is surreal to say!

A quick update in pictures:

We bought our first home in January 2010:

Erik graduated from Oregon State University and had a big party with a whole bunch of family and friends:

In May 2010 we went on an incredible vacation to Maui:

My best friend Sara and her hubby Russ had a perfect baby boy Blake (He is now SEVEN months old!):

We found out we were expecting a precious baby on July 15, 2010: This is the first ultrasound in August where we saw the heartbeat for the first time.

We landscaped our yard with our incredible friends Noele, Brandon, Krista and Brandon.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with both sides of the family in our new home:

This was before my company Christmas party in early December (around 25 weeks?):

There are many more events in 2010 and of course there are overviews of 2008 and 2009... All in time.

So Long Since an Update...

Well we have moved in and settled all down in our new apartment. There is so much that has happened the past month and a half I do not know where to start!!

Erik is having a great time at Boeing. He is now working programming a part a bull gear which is a gear that runs a plane's engines. (A 747). That is all I really know or understand how to explain! He has met a friend there, Lane. Lane and his wife, Ashley live in the same apartment complex. We seem to have dinner together at least once a week, so that has been fun.

He is going to Seattle in two weeks for training for a week. He has a company credit card, company car, etc. etc. etc. He is loving not being school. We both have to get up pretty early, but I think our bodies are getting used to it. We are young but go to bed at 8:30 and wake up around 5:30. It's the only way to not fall asleep during the day!

I am in a first grade classroom full time and have been teaching everyday. I get along with my teacher and all the other staff members. I enjoy going to "work" everyday, although 24 seven-year olds really wear you out by 2:20. : ) I have been interviewing for jobs in Lebanon and Corvallis. I am going to the final interview for Corvallis next Wednesday. You interview, then teach a reading lesson to a group of 1st graders. YIKES. It is going well, but somedays it is very hard dealing with all the kids. 99% of them live below the poverty line. Most live in apartments.

I have been getting lidocaine injections in my neck and head for my neck issues and head aches. It is starting to help a bit, which is a blessing. It is not fun getting the injections, ouch. Then, I got a cortisone shot in my knee which has reduced the pain 75%. Now, in physical therapy we will start building back my quad muscle. So, God has been good to us, showing both of us that my body will heal. I still have a long recovery, but seeing little improvements is very encouraging. Counting my headaches and knowing it is one less each day is very good! Bless Erik, he drives 45 minutes with me to Physical Therapy and then drives all the way home (another 45 minutes). He is so supportive.

We have been here for four weeks I think and have gone to a couple different churches. One had many thousand. It is so interesting to see what church is like in a big city. In Corvallis, we do not have the range of choices.

Just a quick update for those interested. Send me anyone's email address so I can send them the link for this blog, I set it as private. Katie, Debbie, and whoever send me your emails!!! : )

Hope all is well!!!

4 Days to Go...

Well, we are moving on Friday... Our bed is now in the living room because boxes have slowly overtaken our bedroom. it is a bit of a treat because we get to watch TV or a movie in bed, that is always fun.

Yesterday, my boss at the coffee shop had a going away party for me. That was fun... It is always interesting when work people hang out outside of work. Hmmm.

Everything is basically packed (just all the odds and ends that you have to wait for).

Erik is in a final right now and has another one tonight at 6. Then one more on Thursday at 9:30. I do not have finals but am in the library trying to do my work sample for next term. I am teaching a unit on poetry. OH boy.

We are antsy, stressed, and tired! We just want to be up in Gresham unpacking our massive amounts of boxes and have a few days of "spring break."

I will post some pictures of the tornado that came to visit... : )

Have a great great week!

Odd Things About Me... : )

Tarah and Katie tagged me to write about ten weird/odd/random things or facts/habits about myself. I don't know if I have ten, and there are only a handful of people reading this but here it goes:

1. Erik refers to my toes as "bottle openers" I admit that they are a little weird but they curve up just a bit.

2. When I was little, my sister and I were painting a huge pumpkin on a cardboard box for a carnival at school. My mom left us in the kitchen to paint and came back and we managed to take off all our clothes and cover ourselves from head to toe in black and orange.

3. When I was 6, my best friend dared me to take an m & m out of the bulk candy in Safeway. Then she turned around and told my mom. My mom made me go PAY for the thing and the lady said I needed to pay 1/2 a cent. I was so confused.

4. I have Terrien's Marginal Corneal Degeneration. Its an eye condition that happens to men over 45. Its where one of my eye's cornea degenerates over time. Yes, I know...

5. When I was in middle school, my friend and I flew by ourselves to California. In the Burbank airport, we met and took a picture with Bruce Vilanche, he was the rather large guy on Hollywood Squares with blond curly hair and red glasses.

6. My mom wanted to instill good financial habits in me when I was young, so she signed me up for a credit card at 10 years old. She would wait in the car and I would grocery shop. We both loved it. I went to the bank the first time when I was 5 to get my first savings account.

7. I started working in my family's toy store (The Zoo) in Sunriver when I was 7 years old. I stocked all the toys and did the cash register.

8. I had Lasik eye surgery two years ago. I don't have to wear glasses or contacts anymore, YAY!!!!!!

9. When I was 14 I got my belly button pierced with a friend. We drove to Salem with her older sister. We were so rebellious.

10. I ice skated competitively for several years when I was young. My mom made all my outfits and I would go to practice before elementary school and after school until bed. I loved it.

I have no one to tag because I only read Tarah and Katie's blogs. So, girls, wanna do it again!? : ) Just kidding!

Moving part 2...

I realized that I have not written for three weeks... (Thanks Katie!)

We are moving in two weeks from yesterday (Friday). We went to Gresham two weeks ago and found apartments. It was an odd process because we drove through the down over 10 times going from place to place. We were so defeated by the end of the day so we went to Outback for dinner. We decided to drive around a little more that night (it was SO dark!) and stumbled upon these great apartments that were in our price range and had more than what we were looking for. There is a pool, hot tub, and fitness center. We found a one bedroom on the third floor which is great because we won't have anyone above us. I realized it is not so great because I struggle horribly with stairs because of my knee. Oops.

If you are interested in where we are living... the website is www.carlaprop.com and then on the left hand side you click on Aspen Highlands and it shows pictures, etc... ;)

Erik found out his hours are M-F from 6 am to 2:30pm which I was thrilled about, but he is a night person! I am slowly converting him (devious, I know). If he is not out studying until the wee hours of the morning, he is in bed with me around 9:30. Yes, I am only 21 and go to bed at 9:30. I need lots of beauty rest!

The drive for Erik will be 10-15 minutes (no traffic at 5:45 AM!) For me, it will be about the same. Yesterday we drove back up to Gresham so that I could find a teacher that I can student teach with full-time. I more or less "interviewed" two different teachers. One is a male, who I really liked and one was a female. I got along really well with the lady and found out half way through our conversation that she is a Christian and she even invited Erik and I to church when we move up there... (whole other post). I have thought and prayed and thought and I think I am going to go with the man. I think I will learn more from him, and he is pretty organized (I am crazy organized).

Katie asked the difference between student teaching and a work sample here is the scoop...

Student teaching- I have spent this whole year in the classroom. I teach lessons, do things with the kids, etc. It is the hardest experience because I am always being critiqued. Starting March 31, I will be in the classroom ALL DAY long every day of the week. I will teach full-time for three weeks (so, I teach all day everyday, which at this point is a big deal). Then for the rest of the term I teach at least half-days... During these 11 weeks, I will teach my second work sample.

Work Sample- A compilation of ten related lessons on the same topic (not necessarily same subject) You can integrate math, PE, writing, etc. You have to assess the students in the beginning (pre-test) and at the end to show learning gains (post-test). I just finished my first one, which took hours and hours and it is now 75 pages. I will do another one of these next term.

I graduate on June 15 which only a hop, skip, and jump away! Who Hoo!!

Other news... I go to the surgeon again (who did my knee surgery) on Monday to figure out what is next in the knee saga. I have more pain now than before surgery and it is continually swollen. The physical therapist can't figure out why. Hopefully the doctor will have some answers.

Our house is a disaster with boxes. We had to buy them, unfortunately. My mom got us several free ones in Bend and Chuck and Debbie brought them over when we saw them two weekends ago. Then we found some for sale on Craigslist. It doesn't matter if they all say "Cat Food" right? : ) I am so happy that we will be unpacking them in just two short weeks.

Okay, obviously I should post more because this is a novel.

I will try and be better. : )

Have a great weekend everyone! Happy Birthday Chuck!!!! We love you!