Renne Ashton Whidden

Renne Ashton Whidden

born on February 20, 2013 at 6:13 a.m.

weighing 8 lbs 5 oz. and 21.2'' long

She made it!! Despite the odds, our angel arrived right on time and on her due date!! After 9 months of waiting and wondering, our baby girl is here and we could not be happier. She taunted us for a few days, but finally decided to make her appearance. We love her so much!!

It all started on Friday when I went for a massage at a special spa here in Edmonton called "Sweet Momma" just for expecting moms! Timmy got me a gift certificate for there, so I decided to get a massage. One of the services they offer is an "induction" massage, where they push on various pressure points in your ankles and feet to try and stimulate labor hormonal release. I wasn't holding out for this to work, but decided to give it a shot. I had been having Braxton Hicks contractions all week and was hopeful things were "getting ready". I went for the massage, and it was relaxing more than anything. Afterwards, I decided to go buy some raspberry leaf tea and some pineapple. I guzzled the tea and ate pineapple and spicy soup, and when Tim got home, I told him I wanted to go for a walk. We took Ruby on one of our usual routes - and I was determined to get things going. I think the massage messed with my head a little. I told myself, tomorrow is the day! It's going to happen!  We walked for almost 2 hours (I would not recommend this at 9 months pregnant) and my belly felt like a rock the entire time, but nothing progressed or was in any sort of pattern. When we got home I was completely whiped out! My pelvis was killing me and I could hardly stand up! Tim looked at me and said, "No matter what you do, the baby is going to come when she wants to. You just need to relax and let it happen." I decided that trying to "induce" myself was a waste of time, and went to bed.

The next day, I decided to get out of the house and get my mind off labor. Tim and I decided to go see a movie, and during the last half of the movie I was having contractions about ten minutes apart, coming regularly. Again, I got excited, but they went away once I fell asleep that night. The next morning I continued to get regular contractions, but they weren't getting worse or closer together. All day Sunday I twiddled my thumbs wondering how long this would go on for. I kept texting my dad updates...and asking him what to expect. With babies, you just never know. I could wait another two weeks for this baby which, clearly, I did not want! On Monday my mom and sisters arrived - hoping baby was coming soon. I continued to have contractions, but only 5-6 min apart and not painful. I kept thinking...I want to feel the painful contractions! I want this to get going! BRING IT ON! Monday night my contractions did not stop and I couldn't sleep through them any longer. By Tuesday morning I was having mildly painful contractions 5 minutes apart and experiencing increasing back pain. My sisters used an APP on my phone to time them, but we weren't seeing any progression. Tim got home from work around 5:30 and it was like she knew Ok, Daddy's home, now I can come. 

As we prepared and ate dinner, I could feel the contractions getting longer and tighter. My mom, sisters, Tim and I had a "timing" party. I would say "GO!" once one began and would climb onto the floor, on all 4s until it was over. The back pain made me want to be hunched over to relieve some of the tensing in my back. We watched "Just for laughs GAGs" on TV and continued to time them. I kept telling myself that this might not be "it", that it could go on for a few more days - maybe even weeks! The contractions started getting closer and closer. Once they were 4 min apart, I decided to hop in the shower. I started to gather my things and turned to my mom - "What if this isn't it? What if they send me home?" "This is it", she said. Being my stubborn self, I waited until they were 3 min apart and I told Tim I was ready. We left the house around 11:45, and arrived at the hospital just after midnight. The nurse checked me and I was 5 cm dilated. "Does this mean you aren't sending me home?" I asked. haha. "Uhh, no", she said. For the next 4 hours I lived on my birth ball and in the shower. I puffed on some laughing gas, which helped me concentrate on breathing. Around 4:00 the nurse checked me, and I was 7 cm. I was starting to feel tired and the pain was getting pretty intense, so they broke my water. That felt amazing, and I felt such a relief of pressure. But then, holy momma, the contractions got really intense very rapidly. I started to doubt if I could stick to my "natural" plan. But, I did not want the hassle of an epidural. Tim was so amazing. He told me to breath and that I could do it. I could not have done it without him or my amazing nurses! "You're doing it! You're doing so awesome!" They told me. "I am??" haha. I didn't feel too awesome... Around 5:30 I started to feel a strong urge to push, so the nurses checked me and I was 9.5 cm. I kept thanking them, as if they had something to do with it. At that point it hit me. I was going to meet my girl so soon. I was so excited. When the nurse told me I could push, I most definitely pushed as hard and I could. I pushed as long as possible with each contraction and told myself not to stop until she was out. In prenatal class, we heard horror stories of women pushing for 3-4 hours, but my doctor told me I was making remarkable progress for a first time mom. I only needed to push for 35 minutes, and there she was, on my chest. Perfect and beautiful. I will never forget that feeling. It was the most amazing moment; I was crying, giggling, shaking, and panting all at the same time. I have never been that happy.

My beautiful baby was wrapped up in a white blanket and we were sent to our recovery room. She looked just like an angel. I just wanted to kiss her cheeks and hug her. They don't tell you just how much you will love your baby in prenatal class.

Our healthy precious girl. So happy, and already has cheeks!

One amazing moment: when you see your baby girl in the arms of her daddy. This is love.

I love newborn wrinkles. Newborn cheeks. Newborn smell. Newborn hair. I love Renne's expression when I burp her. Or when she looks up at me, and for a second I feel like she can really see me. I love her frog legs and how she snuggles into my chest and is so perfectly content there. I sing "Child of God" to her at least once a day. I really believe she knows more than I do about being a Child of God. I don't understand how people can still say there is no God after having a baby. What more of a miracle do they need to witness?

We had to stay for a few days because Renne was jaundice. She loved the blue "tanning bed". We, however, did NOT like it. We just wanted to hold our new baby and cuddle her! I was feeling gipped of Renni snuggles. I only waited 9 months!!

Looking quite yellow. I love her spiky hair. It's totally her Daddy's hair. 

Proud mama

So who does Renne look like?? Well, she's a mix, but right now she is looking lots like her Daddy. 

Mini Timmy looking up at me. Soo cute!

The past few weeks have been amazing. There is so much to be grateful for. 

But mostly, I am so thankful to know that...

families. are. forever.