Blake Douglas : Birth Story

A sweet little boy was born and made us a family of four. This is the birth story of Blake Douglas!

39 weeks 3 days - Wednesday, March 13, 2019

I had a midwife appointment Wednesday and decided to get checked to see if I was progressing any. I was at "a good stretchy 3", the baby was tucked into my right hip, my belly was measuring 40 weeks and the midwife said with some good contractions I would open right up.

We were forecasted to get the storm of the century and since we are 70 miles from the hospital, as a precaution Steve and I were staying with his sister, Jess.

Wednesday night around 11pm I started to have my bloody show and possible loss of mucus plug along with some noticeable contractions. I went to bed but that was the end of those labor symptoms and I slept through the night with no issues.

39 weeks 4 days - Thursday, March 14, 2019

We stayed warm and cozy at Jess's and that included the baby. We binge watched Game of Thrones and I really didn't have any more signs of labor.

39 weeks 5 days - Friday, March 15, 2019

I woke up at 7:30am to a little jolt and what I thought could have been my water breaking but it was very little fluid so I thought I probably just peed.

Steve and I ran some errands around Fargo as the roads hadn't been opened up yet for us to go back home. Around 2pm we decided to go to the hospital just to make certain my water didn't break.

Swab test came back positive for amniotic fluid so we were admitted and I couldn't even go get my bag from the car. I was feeling great, was dilated to a 4 and contractions (that I hardly noticed) were 3 minutes apart.

Around 3:45pm we were all cozy in our room but not much was happening on the baby front, I was still super content and hadn't had much more come out for amniotic fluid. The midwife checked me at 5:30pm and could still feel some of the bag so she was scratching the baby's head trying to get it to break the rest of the way and ... break. it. did. Now it was go time!! I seriously wish I would have had a video of the water coming out because I felt like a fire hydrant haha it is a feeling that is unexplainable.

This time around I tested negative for Group B Strep so I didn't have to be hooked up to anything. They did give me an IV just incase something were to go wrong and they needed to give me meds, it was there. I labored naturally sitting on the bed and then laying on my stomach over the peanut ball. I did all this without pain and just kept talking with God and praying over my body singing along to Fear is a Liar. I let my contractions do their job!

At 7:45pm I was at 8cm. At some point I remember being on the peanut ball and I asked if there was a head there because I felt a lot of pressure - the midwife hopped up to come check and sure enough it was time. That is one of the main reasons I love the midwife team is they let you do your thing, and also a reason I'd like to try home birth if we have another! I turned around to use the birthing bar because that worked so well with Quinn but we couldn't get the bed to drop down far enough for me to get into a squatting position. So around 8:30pm one nurse grabbed one leg and Steve grabbed the other - 3 good pushes and we welcomed our son at 8:46pm.

This was another wonderful pregnancy, labor & delivery and I thank God for this experience (recommend the book Supernatural Childbirth to anyone trying to get pregnant).
I'm still a little shocked we have a son - what a wonderful addition to our family he has been!!

8 lbs 10 oz 20.25 in

Family of Four

Photography by our wonderful friend and photographer Dalayna

Growing Baby Rote2: 33 Weeks

How far along:  33 weeks

I’m feeling: Pretty good still. I didn't wear my support tank yesterday and today my legs were a little more sore, so supporting the extra weight made an impact

Total weight gain: 27 lbs - my weight was up and down more than ever this week (4.5 lb difference in one day kind of crazy), blaming that on some crap food

Baby Rote’s size: around the size of a honeydew melon (19in, 4.5lbs)

This week: Had a great midwife appointment on the 24th - baby is head down, hopefully he/she stays that way! This weekend we had fun with Auntie Eri staying over and a visit from Auntie Kayla too.
Calving started in full force this week so Steve has been very busy.

Maternity clothes: No new clothes but clearly still loving my blanqi tanks

Sleep: Still getting great sleep!

Best moment this week: Having lunch with one of my best friends who is due with her 2nd babe on Feb 10!
Attending a keynote by Rachel Hollis!
Ohhh and I got my maternity pictures back!!!

Movement: Babe is still an active little one!

Food cravings: Chocolate Milkshakes

Food aversions: Nothing

Belly button in or out: out/flat

Looking forward to: warmer weather, forecast of -57 (negative fifty-seven) with windchill this week

Growing Baby Rote2: 31 Weeks

How far along:  31 Weeks (1 day)

I’m feeling: still feeling really good

Total weight gain: 24 lbs

Baby Rote’s size: around the size of a coconut (18in, 3.2lbs)

This week: fairly uneventful week in the baby department

Maternity clothes: nothing new

Sleep: woke up to a charlie horse on Saturday - those things kill and I hope that was my only one this pregnancy!

Best moment this week: Quinn turning 21months and her mood improving as the week went on - toddler tantrums are no joke

Movement: Got some good videos of babe moving this week - seriously this guy/gal is crazy active!

Food cravings: nope

Food aversions: nope

Belly button in or out: flat

Looking forward to: this upcoming chill week, so hopefully another boring bump update coming to you next week.

Growing Baby Rote2: 30 Weeks

How far along:  30 weeks

I’m feeling: Really good besides some minor stretching pain under my left rib but nothing I can't live with.

Total weight gain: 24 lbs

Baby Rote’s size: around the size of a butternut squash {17in, 3.1lbs}

This week: I passed my glucose test and got to hear babe's heartbeat {150bpm}

Maternity clothes: nope - still stretching out my current clothing haha

Sleep: still great - seriously, don't come to me if you want pregnancy horror stories because it just really agrees with me

Best moment this week: My maternity session with Taylor Jane Photography - I felt sooo pretty, it was amazing!!

Movement: Baby was sideways at my appointment, but who knows how long that lasted because I swear that child is just doing somersaults in there non stop!

Food cravings: Peppermint anything

Food aversions: n/a

Belly button in or out: fairly flat this week

Looking forward to: the first weekend of potty training to be over. Started with Quinn on Saturday, she is getting the hang of it so lets hope she doesn't go through allllll her outfits tomorrow at daycare!

Growing Baby Rote2: 29 Weeks

How far along: 29 weeks (+ 2 days)

I’m feeling: really good - I caught myself having to remind myself I am pregnant this week - you'd think with this large belly I wouldn't forget but I do!

Total weight gain: 23 lbs {4 lbs above where I was with Quinn at this time}

Baby Rote’s size: about the size of a small cabbage {17in 2.9lbs}

This week: Since I skipped a week of updates this covers a lot, lets just say it was filled with a lot of Christmas. Oh and a winter storm that prevented me from getting to my glucose test and midwife appointment.

Maternity clothes: nothing new here

Sleep: still getting great sleep

Best moment this week: Quinn saying I Love You & Steve getting the floor done in the baby room

Movement: a ton of movement and a lot I can see from the outside

Food cravings: nothing really but I got my fill of sugar from all the Christmas treats

Food aversions: none - well except I'm staying away from the spicy things to avoid heartburn

Belly button in or out: still out and is Quinn's favorite thing to find

Looking forward to: maternity photos

Dec 22

Dec 26

Dec 30

Look at that beautiful floor!

Growing Baby Rote2: 27 Weeks

How far along:  27 Weeks

I’m feeling: little more tired this week than usual, later in the week I also had a horribly itchy belly - so my skin must be stretching good this week!

Total weight gain: 20 lbs - feels good to keep the same weight over a week

Baby Rote’s size: Around the size of a cucumber {15in, 2.2lbs} apparently now the measurements for length are from head to toe instead of head to butt ... so maybe they will be more consistent from here on out

This week: I had Wednesday off from work and took it as a me day to get some last minute Christmas shopping done and get a massage - it was lovely! We also took Quinn's Nuk away this week, on Thursday so I thought that was going to be hell but it was a very smooth transition!!
Today we made Christmas cookies at Grandma Holly's.

Maternity clothes: nothing new in this department

Sleep: still sleeping great!

Best moment this week: Steve getting the baby room painted - oh and Quinn helped too haha

Movement: He or She is still having a blast swimming all over in there

Food cravings: Bought a whole cheesecake at Costco again this week, sooo maybe that was my craving of the week

Food aversions: nothing!

Belly button in or out: out but thankfully getting more flat

Looking forward to: Christmas Celebrations starting this coming weekend!

Growing Baby Rote2: 26 Weeks

How far along: 26 weeks (+1 day)

I’m feeling: large but good. I've noticed a little more heartburn this week, nothing horrible just a reminder to not stuff myself and avoid spicy foods. My ribs, back & front on my left side have had some more noticeable numbing pain, nothing to complain about and overall I feel really good!

Total weight gain: 20 lbs - Maybe I feel so large because I'm almost 4lbs ahead of my weight gain compared to Quinn's pregnancy, hopefully that is me gaining weight from chocolate and not a 9lb or 10lb baby in my future!

Baby Rote’s size: Around the size of a Butternut Squash {9.2in, 2lbs << hmm I don't know what app I used for the last update because it said babe was 13in and now they are 9 hahah}

This week: Since I skipped an update week, we had an appointment on Nov 29th strong heartbeat at 155bpm. Picked our Christmas tree out on the 1st and saw Santa on the 8th!

Maternity clothes: still loving my blanqi tanks and I've tried out one pair of leggings, they are okay, I think I'll like them more for postpartum wear!

Sleep: When I don't get caught watching a Hallmark Christmas movie my sleep is great 9+ hours!

Best moment this week: watching the baby move from the outside

Movement: child must be training for a triathlon in there - LOTS of movement haha

Food cravings: nothing specific, just like my drinks really cold and eat at least 1 sea salt dark chocolate caramel a day

Food aversions: I have to watch it around spicy food like I said above due to heart burn but nothing that sounds horrible!

Belly button in or out: still out - Quinn loves searching for it and I think she is a little confused as it keeps moving!

Looking forward to: I have the day off Wednesday, as a me day and I'm excited for the 90min massage I have booked!
Oh and as you can see, Steven has started in the baby room, painting and carpet rip up in our future!!

Growing Baby Rote2: 24 Weeks

How far along: 24 weeks

I’m feeling: Really good. Feeling larger by the day but overall no complaints except some minor rib pain here and there.

Total weight gain: 18 lbs - I'm wondering how much of that is from allllll the mashed potatoes I ate over Thanksgiving break!

Baby Rote’s size: About the size of an Eggplant {13 in 1.5 lbs}

This week: Just getting over a turkey coma - had a great Thanksgiving weekend visiting family. We made the trip to the cities to Steve's Aunt's and I was thankful for no back pain during the long drive, when I was pregnant with Quinn that drive was NOT fun!!

Maternity clothes: Ordered some Blanqi leggings from their Black Friday sale so I'm excited to try those out! I'm living in Leggings these days so, some with added support sound wonderful.

Sleep: I feel like I toss and turn a lot more these days but I still sleep pretty well. I ordered a pregnancy pillow a few weeks ago, I'm really partial to my regular pillow so I'm not totally sold on it yet.

Best moment this week: feeling the baby have the hiccups on the 20th

Movement: lots of movement - feels like the baby is having fun swimming in there

Food cravings: nothing really, especially after the week of over indulging

Food aversions: nope still good there

Belly button in or out: out for the most part

Looking forward to: 24 week appointment this week

11.01.18 Ultrasound

11.01.18 Ultrasound

Growing Baby Rote2 - 20 Weeks

Baby number 2 is coming and we are already at the half way point. I thought my first pregnancy went fast, well this one is going so much faster now that we have Quinn to keep us busy!!

I'm already ahead of the game with this post compared to last time, however if you read my blog (hi mom & dad) you'll see that I never completed Quinn's updates. She did indeed turn One and is now 18mo, I'm sure for the sake of blog consistency I'll go in and backdate her monthly posts since they are done just on the Instagram platform and not on the blog {so hopefully in due time this little blurb will be irrelevant}.

Okay sorry we were talking about the 2nd child, poor thing is already getting overlooked. I am going to follow the same format as I did with Quinn's pregnancy for these bump updates so enjoy!!

How far along:  20 weeks

I’m feeling: Really good - I did forget to wear my belly support tank this week and I was quickly reminded how much that makes a difference already.

Total weight gain: 11lbs I feel like I've gained and grown much faster this time around - my body remembers what is coming

Baby Rote’s size: 10 oz about the size of a mango

This week: I'm just amazed this is half way over already and I realized I need to start documenting better!

Maternity clothes: I bought zero maternity items last time, this time around a girlfriend swore by the Blanqi support tanks so I snagged a few when they had a sale - well she was right because they are amazing!!

Sleep: I wake to little sounds more easily this time around but thankfully Q sleeps through the night so my sleep is pretty easy and uninterrupted. I do plan to get a body pillow this time around, I'm just starting to really notice I need that support at night.

Best moment this week: Having my sister help me get Quinn's Halloween costume ready

Movement: I've been feeling this little one since October 4 which was around 17 weeks. Kind of crazy because with Quinn I didn't feel it until closer to 20 so that has been fun.

Food cravings: Nothing at the moment. A month ago I was craving everything sugar. A couple weeks ago I was craving cheesecake.

Food aversions: Thankfully nothing.

Belly button in or out: Oh this darn thing decided to not play nice this time around and as soon as I started gaining weight it was starting to pop out. I just need to pack on a few more pounds and hopefully it'll go flat again haha

Looking forward to: Our ultrasound this week (Nov 1) We haven't seen this peanut since I was 7weeks so we are excited!
Also going on a girls weekend mystery adventure with my sister, {pregnant} best friend, her sister and a bus full of other ladies!!

Quinn James : Birth Story

I always want to remember how our first born came into this world. Here is the story of meeting our sweet girl for the first time.

40 weeks + 1 day. Friday April 7, 2017.
My water broke around 9pm. Steve and I were sitting in our living room watching TV and I felt a small contraction then thought I peed my pants a little (oh the joys of pregnancy). So I went to the bathroom and thought my water broke instead but I wasn't totally convinced. I went back to watching TV and got up a little while later and as soon as I stood up I had the gush, in true movie-like water breaking fashion that I was told didn't happen very often. I was so excited and Steve was in the kitchen at the time so I had to show him that it was indeed time, he told me to stop leaking all over the house and get in the bathroom 😆

I knew I wanted to labor at home for as long as possible and since we live an hour from the hospital the plan was to leave when contractions were about 5 minutes apart.

We knew it was going to be a long night so we both wanted to try and get a little sleep, I really wasn't having contractions yet so Steve and I both went to bed.

40 weeks + 2 days. Saturday April 8, 2017.
I woke up around 12am to more gushing and noticeable contractions. At 12:30 I woke Steve up and said we better get ready to go as the contractions were getting closer together.

We were on the road at 1am. It was a nice drive to Fargo, I had my eyes closed most of the trip just breathing through contractions and listening to the book Supernatural Childbirth.

Got to the hospital a little after 2. We were taken to the birthing floor and I got checked for the first time in the whole pregnancy and was 3.5-4 cm  dilated. We got moved into our room and I changed out of that hospital gown pretty fast, seriously those things are annoying. I was way more comfortable in a sports bra and granny panties!

I spent the next few hours walking around the room, breathing through contractions and using Steve or the sink counter to support me during them. Sometime during these few hours between 2 and 4 I was laying on the bed and yelled for Steve to get me the garbage - I threw up twice and then felt fine, it totally came out of nowhere. I was checked again at 4am and was only at a 4; I felt like it would be a long day at that rate.

I had tested positive for Group B Strep so the nurses started my IV of antibiotics, and of course they had to stick me 4 or 5 times before they switched arms and then got it right away. I don't remember getting out of bed again, I labored on my side and then had them bring the birthing ball and I laid on that in the bed. Steve was great, making sure I was drinking water, and keeping the back of my neck cool with a washcloth. They checked me again at 6am and I was at a 6.

Everything you read and hear about labor, say that transition is the most difficult part and I honestly don't remember it being any more difficult other than the contractions were just closer together. By 8am I was at 10cm and our midwife said it was time to push.

Our birth photographer got there just in time for me to start pushing. I started pushing while I still had the birthing ball under me and then ended up in a squatting position. I was using Steve and a nurse on the sides of me to grab onto when it was time to push, eventually they brought in the bar that attached to the bed and that seemed easier for me.

Between contractions and pushing there was a point where I needed oxygen to help the baby, it wasn't something the medical professionals made a big deal about so if there was something really wrong they didn't let on and that kept me super calm to be able to just focus on deep breathing. I was thankful to not be in any pain and just kept praying and trusting God.

I couldn't tell you how many times I pushed but before I knew it one of the nurses was asking if I'd like a mirror to see our baby crowning. This was a relief because at one point I asked if the baby was going back up after each time I relaxed and wasn't actively pushing - haha they said that wasn't how it worked, phew, good to know!!
So I felt the baby crowning and could see all the beautiful dark hair in the mirror, our midwife said she hoped it was a girl with all that hair because it would be a waste on a boy!!

Two more good pushes, one for the head, one for the shoulders and our baby arrived at 9:04am. Steve announced it was a girl, they put her on my chest and the rest of the day is a blur - she was here and that was all that seemed to matter!!

Now I have to talk a little about our birth plan. I wanted a natural birth and not to be all macho I just had a big fear of not feeling my legs if something didn't work with the epidural. A few weeks before my due date I had a dear friend recommend Supernatural Childbirth and I couldn't be more grateful. This book and ideology was just what I needed. I had been praying to God regularly for the health of this baby but never did I think to pray for a painless birth. So I started to talk to God about how this birth would look and I had such a peace about it. I am so proud of myself and my body and beyond grateful that He gave us this wonderful experience that resulted in our beautiful Quinn James!

Above Photos by Lindsay Kaye Photography

7 lbs 12 oz 20 in