The Waiting Game (updated Jan 15)

Hi Y'all!

Little baby girl Gaskin is now 11 days past her "due date" with a little action here and there. Actually, a more appropriate description is "due month" where 38-42 weeks is considered full term. So really, she's all good and still within her timing. While it does seem like a lot of time has passed, we've been handling the "waiting" very well. It's given us time to get things in order and to relax before she changes our world.

It's touching to realize how many of our friends and family actually think about us when it seems like having a baby is just such a normal piece of life. However, in lieu of the million texts back and forth the last few days, we've decided to start this blog just to keep everyone in the loop as the action happens...or doesn't happen.

I'll update daily in the timeline below. Thank you all so much for your continual thoughts, well wishes and prayers, we are truly blessed!

xoxo - The Gaskins


Baby Timeline:

Jan 2nd - "Due Date", 40 weeks

Jan 12th - 9:15pm: baby girl still baking

Jan 13th - 

4am: Having regular contractions 3-4min since 2:30am. If this keeps up for another hour or 2, will consider going to hospital. Still blogging, so obviously manageable ;)

5:40am: Well that was anti-climactic... The contractions spaced back out and stopped. Back to bed, no baby. 

9:30pm: Contractions started again, but too spaced out to begin timing. Just relaxing and reading while baby listens to classical music and Shobab fixes various things around the house. 

Jan 14th --
2am: Contractions have been steady since they started earlier at 9:30, about 5-6 min apart. Progressively getting slightly lower and more painful, laboring on the yoga ball seems to help. Letting Shobab sleep now, if this continues I'll definitely need all his energy for me later :) As far as I know, water has not yet broke. 

6:30am: Still home, still having contractions....they were steady at about 2-3 min apart and more intense for a while (Shobab was counteracting pain/pressure by massaging and pushing on my lower back), but in last hour the contractions have spaced back out. Hopefully we'll be able to get some sleep before they get closer again. Soooo tired. 

12pm: Been steady laboring for a good 12 hours now. Still home, I caught a break around 8am and was able to get almost an hour sleep. Back at it, regular contractions about 3min apart, 6-7 out of 10 intensity level. So over it. 

2pm: Continuing labor at home, into the 14th hour. Mom came over to give Sho a break. Averaging 3 min apart still. Broke out the massage table and being tended to like a queen. Will prob head to hospital in an hour before traffic hits. As its going now, im anticipating a long and hopefully steadily progressing labor.... But I've got a great team :)

5pm: We just checked into our room at the hospital...I'm 4-5cm dialated, 80% effaced! (ie, encouraging  progress) Contractions are good, strong and steady. Shobab has been excellent support and a great coach throughout. I'm detached from monitors and free to walk around and make myself comfortable while I do my thang. 

Im sure as things progress, my blogging between contractions will diminish and my mom or sis will take over the updates. Let's do this!

6:20pm: Bag of water popped when the midwife was checking her. 6cm. Sarah is a superstar... handling like a champ.

8:25pm: Sarah is getting an epidural now. She has been laboring for almost 24 hours and with only 45 mins of sleep. The epi will not only make her feel like a million bucks, but will give her some time to rest before it's time to push.

Jan. 15---

12:00am: Contractions coming almost on top of each other, but no urge to push yet. Sho is getting anxious, so whoever is still up and reading this, please continue to pray.

1:15am: Sarah's comfortable... Just sitting around talking. Recent topics of conversation include nursing careers, kickboxing and Tim Hon.

2:10am: Everyone's sleeping or pretending to sleep. 

2:50am: Totally dilated and her head is nice and low!! Time to start pushing!!

4:00am: Still pushing... Best workout of her life (all you mamas know)! 

5:10am: please PRAY!! This baby needs to start moving in the next 30 mins or there may be some complications. Lord Jesus, get this baby out!

5:36am: aaaaand God is good! She was born a few pushes later. Gorgeous Yaelle Sylvia-Sanaa Gaskin. Healthy, deep cry, wavy black hair...she is so beautiful! :)