Dottie Rae Probert

I can never get over how magical, and spiritual birth is. There is nothing like meeting a little human, that you created. Hearing them cry for the first time, and seeing the face you've been dreaming about for the last nine months. Seriously priceless. I cherish each of my girls' birthdays so much. They are a day I wish I could live over and over again. There is nothing better.

This time around I knew I would have to get a c-section. (See Goldie's Birth Story) With Goldie I had an emergency c-section. It was a very stressful, and scary situation. This time around it was planned, and wow, was it a different experience. So much more relaxed!

We started our day at 4:30 a.m. as we hurried to get ready for the hospital. We dropped Goldie off at my parent's for a sleepover because we had the first surgery slot of the day! We needed to be at the hospital at 5:15 so they could start prepping. After having a c-section, I was super nervous. I knew what to expect, and what I was getting myself into. So I was kind of freaking out! I am so afraid of needles and all I could think about was that dang IV and the spinal break! We checked in and I  got dressed in hospital gown, a nurse came in to put in my IV (I didn't even cry, or pass out!) Then I got hooked up to fluids. I walked back to the surgery room with the nurse while Scott got dressed in his hospital get-up. The doctor told me that I would get a spinal break instead of an epidural because it is more dense, and I wouldn't feel as much stretching, pulling and tugging. Thank heaven. The nurse was so sweet and could tell I was nervous... I was shaking uncontrollably haha, and offered her shoulder for me to put my head on while the spinal break was given. I gladly accepted. After lying down on the operation table, with my arms stretched out, scott came in and the surgery began at 6:30. I could still feel some tugging, and pushing on my stomach, but it was short lived. Scott kept peeking over the curtain to see what was going on. He has a strong stomach because there is no way I could do that! Before we knew it, at 6:52 a.m.. we could hear the sweetest little cry. So soft, straight from heaven. They held Dottie over the curtain so I could see her before they took her to weight and measure, and clean her off. They then handed her to Scott who brought her over to me so I could get a better look. She was perfect. And so tiny! (She was over a pound smaller than Goldie!)  She looks so much like her daddy to me. While I was getting stitched up Dottie was on the hunt for some food, but she couldn't find it from Scott haha. After I was stitched up, they handed Dottie to me, and I got to hold her while they wheeled me to Mother and Baby. I didn't get to hold Goldie for an hour or so, so this was very special to me.

Dottie Rae Probert
August 17, 2016 at 6:52 a.m.
6 lbs 4 oz
18 in.

Dottie is so loved by her big sister. We had my friend Paige do a video of the girls meeting, and it is something I will cherish forever. Since I can't really film my birth stories, this was so perfect, and meaningful. Click HERE to watch that video.

I am so grateful for the nurses and doctor that helped deliver my girls. Without modern medicine, I wouldn't be able to have babies, and being a mom is my most cherished job! We are incredibly blessed!

Goldie Sue Probert

Little Goldie is already over a week old... where does the time go?! Time sure does fly! I wanted to write her birth story while it is still fresh in my mind because it is something I want to remember forever. She really is a miracle.

My due date was November 16 and she really wasn't ready to come. I went to my doctors appointment the next day on a Monday, and I still hadn't progressed any. I was devastated. The doctor told me to come back on Friday and he would check to see if I had progressed. Friday I went to the doctor.... and nothing. He set up my induction date for Monday, November 24, but he wanted me to come in on Sunday so we could start the process because I hadn't had any results on my own. Scott and I headed to the hospital ready and anxious to start the process to meet our little angel. So Sunday night the started me on a medicine called  cervadyl which is supposed to help you dilate quicker. Throughout the whole night I was having contractions that were about 2 minutes long and 1 minute apart. However when they checked me again the next morning, I was still only dilated to a 1. I was a little mad because it felt like my body had been doing so much work.

So Monday morning they started me on pitocin and I continued to have contractions that were consistent. Still no progress. The nurse told me I was now not to have any solid food, so I started the liquid only diet. After a whole morning of no progression and constant contractions I decided to get an epidural. I am terrified of needles so that was pretty scary, but it felt so weird and took away the pain. Yay! They continued the pitocin in higher doses. Still no progression. The doctor then decided to do a cervical balloon, which is also something they do to help dilate more quickly. I had that in for a couple hours and it helped me dilate to a 4! I was so excited I thought for sure we would be meeting our baby soon. A little after they took the balloon out, the doctor came in and broke my water. After multiple times of being checked with no progression, the nurse checked again in the middle of the night and I was at a 5. I couldn't believe that it was only a five. They came in again early in the morning and I was at a 9 I was so surprised and happy. Although a couple hours later they came back to check again and I was still. I was so frustrated, and exhausted. I started to feel helpless. I hadn't eaten in 24 hours and had already been in labor for over a day. I started to have a feeling I needed a C-section, which scared me to death. I have never had major surgery so this feeling gave me chills. When the doctor came in saying that we were going to wait one more hour before we would consider a C-section. By this time my epidural had run out, I was exhausted and starving and I couldn't dream of pushing a baby out. I cried to Scott and said that I really think I need a c-section, but I was so scared. The nurses came in and kept making me switch sides because they were having a problem finding the baby's heartbeat.

My mom noticed that every time I had a contraction, the baby's heartbeat would drop. She finally decided to run and tell the nurse that she didn't like what the monitors were doing. Within minutes nurses and doctors rushed into the room and informed me that I was going to have a c-section. I was shaking I was so nervous. I didn't know what was wrong with the baby, or if she was alright or if I was alright. I am so grateful to have such an incredible husband who kept me positive. Scott chose to watch the c-section, he even brought in a camera to take pictures (which I later made him delete the ones that were too gory, I don't like seeing myself cut open like that..)  I had a doctor who was watching me, and one performing the c-section, then several nurses. They were all amazing. The doctor watching me was on one side of my head, on the other side was Scott. I was awake but couldn't feel anything but pressure, and pushing and pulling. It was so crazy. Scott soon exclaimed "it really is a girl!" I then started panicking because I didn't hear a cry. I kept saying "why isn't she crying?" and "what's wrong?". Then I heard the doctor say that I was losing a lot of blood. (which made me super weak and nauseous) I looked at Scott who had tears in his eyes, and so did I. I heard her quiet little cry and it was so sweet. Goldie Sue Probert was born November 25, 2014 at 9:35 am. She weighed 7 lbs 7 oz and was 19.5 in long after 38 hrs of labor, 8 different nurses, and a c-section later. And she is perfect.

I sent Scott with Goldie to go watch her get bathed and weighed because I was unable to get out of bed for another day. He took more pictures for me. He was incredible throughout the whole process.. I just don't think I can convince him to have any more kids ;) He was so great while I was in bed to change diapers and dress her.... just everything. I love him so much.

After I was moved from the labor and delivery level of the hospital to the mother/baby part, my doctor (Dr. Lamoreaux.. he's awesome!) came in to see the baby. I thought this was so thoughtful of him! He told us the reason Goldie's heart beat would drop every time I had a contraction was because her cord was wrapped around her neck, so when I would contract it would choke her. She was also basically stuck in the birth canal forever. Poor girl had a pretty bad cone head and bad bruising on her head. I was also informed the reason that she was stuck, and I wasn't progressing on my own is because it is basically anatomically impossible for me to give birth naturally. The way my pelvis and spine lay make this difficult because a baby just can't fit. So c-sections from now on for me.

Although the birth went nothing like how I planned, I wouldn't have it any other way. It brought me so close to my husband and strengthen my testimony so much. I really am so blessed to have little Goldie here safe, and healthy. Plus she is so dang cute. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for such a loving family who was so supportive through the whole process, and continue to be supportive. We love you so much Goldie Sue.