Bryce’s Birth Story
Scheduled Induction
We were scheduled for an elective induction due to our doctor (whom we had for all 3 pregnancies) was leaving to have a full shoulder replacement and retiring the week of our due date. Because we wanted him to be a party of our delivery story, we elected to go through with the induction. We also went through with it to keep baby a little smaller since Nolan was so big. Baby was measuring in the 50% for all the size ultrasounds (with a 70% head) so we felt confident in going forward with the induction.
Early Labor
We arrived at the hospital at 6:15 in the morning. We checked in and headed up to the labor & delivery floor. We met our nurse whom was nothing short of amazing. Our hospital has the nurses on 12 hour shifts so she would be spending the whole day with us.
Last Belly Photo 
Lets have a baby!
Right after being admitted, Alex showed me the wonderful mother’s day/push gift he had gotten me–a BEAUTIFUL mother’s necklace with the three birthstones of our children. They all ended up being green and then a diamond. I love it–especially because I love green jewelry. The kids (Alex) and I all have green eyes which I guess is pretty rare so the green gems make it even more special to me.
At 6:45 we got a call from my mom, who was watching Nolan, and said he was feverish, crying, and very not ok. I called his ABA center to let them know he would not be coming in. Alex gave my mom a medicine schedule.
We went over the birth plan and started with the cytotec at 7:15am. We then went for a walk–by 9am we had walked 3/4 of a mile in laps around the L&D floor.
Doctor broke my water at 9:15am. I was measuring at 2 at that time. I was having contractions and they would pick up in intensity and get closer together only to taper off and slow down. We went for another walk trying to really get them going. In addition to our earlier walk, we finished at 2 mies…and contractions were getting strong! I was checked again, and I was only at a 2/3 at that time… and the contractions were taking a break again. This was around 11:15. We decided to start pitocin at this time.
Nolan was doing so awful and had actually fallen asleep for a nap (ONLY happens when he is sick). We decided it was worth a doctor’s visit so we would know if it is something contagious (like strep) or something he could get meds for and feel better but not be contagious (ear infection). I called his pediatrician to get an appointment for him. Apparently, a lot of people were sick still because appointments were literally going while I was on the phone. We finally got an appointment with a different doctor (which we try to avoid because our Ped knows Nolan and the fact he is non-verbal).
Since we were starting pitocin slow, I decided to wait on the epidural so I could continue to help myself progress (I don’t like to sit and wait, I wanted to be actively doing something). After one round, contractions were still doing their weird thing of start stop so we upped it. It was around 11:50 at this time.
Labors Quick Progression
Contractions really started to pick up and the only way I was comfortable was to be standing and swaying–holding onto the bed when the contractions hit. They started to really stack on top of each other and get intense so we called for the epidural. The epidural took longer than they expected to get there so when they arrived I was more than ready. The epidural was placed at 12:30.
Nolan’s appointment was at 12:30. My mom said it went very rough as Nolan had a meltdown about being at the doctor in addition to not feeling well at all. No ear infection. They were waiting to hear back about a strep and influenza test. We gave my mom an updated med schedule.
At 2 they checked me again and and I was about a 4/5. We decided to try the peanut ball to see if it helped at all with the progression. Baby’s heart rate did NOT like the peanut ball on either of my sides. When 2:16 rolled around (the time Stella was born), I started to get frustrated–I really didn’t expect the third baby to take longer than the second and this was so far from complete. We were talking with our nurse at this time and asked her the craziest story she ever had. She said one of her first patients went from 5 to complete is 7 minutes so she didn’t even have the room set up.
At 2:30 our nurse looked at the monitors and said she needed to check me again. It had only been 15 minutes so I knew something was up. She checked me and with wide eyes said I was at 8–and she needed to call the doctor. After calling doctor, who said he would be here in 15 minutes, she completed all the room prep and told me whatever I did, do not push and if I felt pressure to let her know ASAP.
HE is HERE!
At 2:45, our doctor walked in and checked me and told the nurse to get the bed ready, it was time to push! He instructed me to push on the next contraction, and then–in that one contraction and 3 pushes, Bryce Anthony was here at 2:50pm!
He had an extremely short cord (just like Nolan) so doctor couldn’t get him any higher than my hips. Doctor was unraveling him from the short cord and I looked down and said, “OH! Its a boy!” Alex literally exclaimed, “oh! Hi Bryce!” at the same time. It was like we both saw and knew at the exact same moment! It was a great surprise!
As they were weighing Bryce and giving me his stats, Alex got the text: Nolan has influenza A. As excited as I was to see my beautiful baby boy, knowing my biggest boy was miserable at home and would not be able to come to the hospital to meet his brother had me sad. I pushed it aside and left it for “future Siraya” to deal with.
Recovery & Introductions
We planned on keeping the gender a secret and when people showed up at the room they would find out then. That being said, when Nolan was sick we knew my mom wouldn’t be able to make it. We decided to text this image to family and friends.
Bryce latched (properly) right away and nursed for a good 20 minutes. My milk came in on day 2–about 48 hours after birth. We spent 3 hours just bonding with Bryce. Alex and I both did skin to skin, he got his initial tests, etc.
Alex’s parents brought Stella to meet Bryce. It was not according to plans and it broke my heart a little bit, but it was amazing to see how excited and just how good she was with him.
Gifts
Stella gave Bryce his build a bear. Bryce gave Stella some pearls. Stella was so excited she put the pearls on and exclaimed {in the loudest highest pitch possible} ” Ooo La La!” Stella needed something to hold up her left arm to allow her to better support Bryce’s head. The bear worked perfect!
Recovery is going well, one of my best recoveries. The hardest part is being over 30 and doing this a third time things are a little slower to go back to feeling “normal.” The nursing contractions are something fierce this time as well.
We didn’t have a lot of visitors in the hospital so we had a lot of time to bond with Bryce. It is strange only having one!
Home-Family of 5
24 hours old officially! 25 hours old, we can go home!
With the Easter holiday, we asked for a 24 hour discharge. Everything went according to plans and we had a normal birth and delivery, so we were able to have the 24 hour discharge. When Bryce was just 25 hours old, we were in the car on the way home.
We went to pick up Nolan and let grandma meet him. After spending some time at grandmas, we went home and my younger brothers met us there. My in-laws were also there with Stella. They all took time to hold him and then they all tapered out. Finally we had time alone to enjoy being a family of 5. We enjoyed a bath and then did a family photo. We then ate dinner and had an early bedtime.
Monthly photos-Newborn
The meaning of the name
Bryce: Alex was supposed to be Bryce. His mom loved it, his dad vetoed it. Alex grew up hearing it and has always loved it. When we announced the name his mom still loved it, and his dad loved it. His mom laughed and said, well you didn’t 30 years ago!
Anthony: this name has a lot of different origins–all powerful and meaningful.
Anthony Gloudemans was Alex’s grandfather. He is the father of 18 children and (I believe) 64 grandchildren. Alex says he is one of the strongest people he knows so we thought this would be a fitting name. Grandpa {and grandma} Gloudemans always had mini snickers on the table so we thought this would be a cute memorial photo.
Anthony is also my step dad and brother’s middle names. They are named after my dad’s uncle Anthony and his grandfather Anton.
We loved that there was one name that grouped together so many strong men in our lives that we new it was the perfect middle name for our little guy.
Comparisons
They are for sure siblings! They definitely have their similarities and differences!
