Olivia Grace Rueckert

Birth Story

So... she's HERE!!  I can't believe the most amazing little miracle is here!  We went to our appointment on her due date last week, 4/18/12, hoping to hear some good news.  I was dilated to a 3.5 and the doctor told us that she would let us go a week over, but no longer than that.  We were pretty bummed that we would have to wait another week, so Dave asked if it would be possible to be induced sooner.  The doctor said that the hospital doesn't really like to induce earlier than 41 weeks, but she would ask and let us know.  She directed us to a nurse that would be calling the Labor and Delivery unit to ask, and then we listened and hoped that they would say yes.  After about 15 minutes of conversation, they decided to allow it!  And just like that, we were scheduled for Friday, April 20th at 7:45 am.

I was off work that day, and was planning on working the rest of the week.  After we scheduled the induction, I decided I would start my maternity leave the next day.  I spent all day Thursday cleaning our apartment and getting every last thing ready.  I was so excited and anxious to meet my baby!  Dave gave me a blessing that night and then we received a call from the hospital.  They were confirming our appointment and told us that we could come at 7:00 am instead.  The only way it wouldn't happen would be if there were a lot of mamas that went in to labor that night and they ran out of room.  We went to sleep and prayed that we would be able to go in.  I was up a lot that night, just from excitement.  Soon enough, 7:00 came and we were off to Riverton Hospital.  We checked in and they led us to our room.  It was so big and cozy!  I changed into the gown and socks and got comfortable.  Our nurse came in and introduced herself.  Her name was Danylle.  She was so bubbly and cute!  She definitely put me at ease.

She started the antibiotics (I'm Strep B +) and the Pitocin in my IV at about 8:30 am.  I was fine for a while.  About an hour later, my OB came in and broke my water.  They told me that now we would just wait and that I could do what I wanted as far as pain went.  I started feeling contractions about a half hour later and WOW - they are no joke!  I had four really strong ones, and then I buzzed the nurse and asked for the epidural.  I felt like a wuss, but Dave kept assuring me that if I was in pain, then I needed it.  The epidural was pretty easy!  I had been nervous about it, but it wasn't bad.  I curled up in a ball and the anesthesiologist made it really painless.  After that, I was in Heaven :)  My whole bottom half went numb and I was feeling fabulous.  We watched my contractions on the screen and I couldn't feel a thing.  We noticed as they got closer and closer together.  At about 11:00, Dave went down to the cafeteria and got lunch.  I couldn't eat, but I wasn't hungry so it was fine.  We just sat and kind of talked off and on, we were both thinking a lot about what would happen next.  At 1:00 pm, Danylle came in and said we would practice pushing a little.  I pushed with her for about 30 minutes.  It was hard because I was still numb and couldn't really feel to push.  Dave watched and said he could see her head coming down when I pushed and he could see hair on her head!

My OB came in and looked at my progress.  She started getting dressed in her scrub stuff really fast and told me to keep pushing.  She said, "Are you okay if I cut?  One cut and this baby will be out!"  I gave her the OK, and she snipped and out she came!  She put Olivia up on my chest and I couldn't believe it had been that easy!  I was in shock... I held her and cried.  She was really messy but I was so happy to see her! Dave confirmed she was a girl :)  My OB was sewing me up and kept commenting about the babies cute little bum, haha she was so funny.  They took her over with Dave and cleaned her up.  They announced that she was 7 lbs. even and 19 inches long.  I asked if there was anything wrong with her and they said her temperature was on the low side, but that was it!  I was so relieved that she was healthy.  Dave filmed and took pictures while they got her all cleaned up.  Then, they put her on my chest again, skin to skin.  I just held her and stared at her.  I can't believe that babies are in our bellies and just come out, that fast!

My mom, Mary, Chad and Erin were waiting outside, so they came in and met her.  As soon as my mom came in, we both started crying.  They all looked at her and said how beautiful she was.  Then, they needed to move us to the Mom and Baby Unit, so they showed me how to use the bathroom and then put me in a wheelchair and handed me Olivia.  Dave pushed us to the new room and we got comfy there.  It was a smaller room, but still cozy.  The new nurse came in and brought the lactation specialist in to teach me how to nurse.  It was a long process.  Olivia was an amazing little sucker, but it was difficult to get her to latch on.  They taught me a lot of good tips, and told me we would keep practicing.  Then, the family started coming to see her!  Dave's dad, Grandma, and Mark came...of course, my mom stayed...my sisters...Matt and Sato...Allen...Dave's mom, James...Brooke and Sean...my Grandma and Grandpa...Dave's grandma...everyone close to us :)

It was so surreal having this little baby to take care of now!  We were up until Midnight that night with visitors and such, then I really didn't sleep much because I was up with Olivia and still trying to teach her to nurse.  Dave stayed up with me as long as he could, then he fell asleep on his little couch bed.  I loved the nights in the hospital because it was our bonding time :)  It was just us and it felt like we were alone in the world.  The next day, Dave held her almost the whole day.  I kept telling him to go get food, but he just wanted to hold her.  He is the cutest daddy!  Olivia had learned to suck pretty well, so she was feeding pretty good.  I was still so nervous that she was starving... I wish they had little gauges on their tummies!

We went home that Sunday at about 10:00 am.  We were so excited to get her home!  We put her in her little going home outfit and hair bow, and tucked her into her car seat.  We also emptied out all of the drawers in our room... :)  The nurses had to help us adjust her seat straps, but then we got her in our van and away we went!  It was so weird to be home with our little babes.  We had a few hours to ourselves, then Dave's family came to see her and my family came later and brought dinner.

That's the story!  Sorry it's so long, it's mostly so we remember this most perfect event in our lives :)  I love her and wouldn't trade this experience for anything.  She is an angel and I'm so glad she came into our lives, healthy and strong!