Crew’s Birth Story:

He’s here! I can’t believe I have three kids! Crew Rushton Rahlf was born September 28th at 12:18 pm. He is 7 lbs 2 ounces and 21 inches long. His middle name is the same as Dane’s. (It’s Dane’s grandma’s maiden name.) We just really liked his first name and that’s why we picked it. Everyone keeps asking me if we are fans of Joanna Gaines and if that’s why we picked the name (she had a boy a few months before and named him Crew…I guess that’s what you get when you keep his name a secret) but honestly I didn’t even know who she was besides the fact that she has an awesome line at Target. I guess we could have picked a worse celebrity to have our children share a name.

I have always loved being pregnant but this time around was the hardest. Chasing two kids while being pregnant is no joke! I started having Braxton Hicks contractions at 19 weeks which was earlier then my last two pregnancies so I was hopeful that this pregnancy I would go into labor by myself. It got to the point where I was having Braxton Hicks contractions all day long but they would never turn into the real deal. I was so worried I wouldn’t know when I was in actual labor because they always felt like they could turn into contractions. 

Last pregnancy I dilated at 35 weeks but this time around I was dilated to a 2 at 33 weeks. I didn’t feel like this was super uncommon for pregnancy number 3 but my doctors were a little worried. They put me on bed rest and prescribed a medicine to slow my contractions (again I was having them all day everyday but obviously they were only BH). I was on actual bed rest (like lay down and don’t do anything unnecessary) for 2 weeks and it was miserable. I thought it sounded like fun to do nothing all day and sleep but I was bored after 3 hours. I can’t imagine people who have to do it for months (shout out to my mom, Brittany and Dane for taking care of the other kids). I made it to 35 weeks with no baby and the doctors were pleased and said if I went into labor they wouldn't stop me. I think like my body just dilates super early but doesn’t ever go into labor. So, next pregnancy if I dilate early I probably won’t do bed rest and just take it easy. 

I continued to dilate each appointment but I didn’t go into labor (still having regular BH). This was actually very frustrating . With Adler my water broke and labor started all by itself. But with Ettley I had to be induced. It looked like that was what was going to happen this time around. We set my induction for September 28 which made me 39 weeks. The plus side of being induced is you can make a plan. Because I am a planner, this was good. I knew my kids would for sure be taken care of and Dane would be with me when I went into labor. 

We checked in on the 28th at 7:30 am and got situated in our room. I was 5 cm and 50 % effaced and a -2 engaged. After I got checked my contractions stared to pick up but like I said I had no idea what was real or BH anymore. I also had them put my IV in my arm instead of my hand because I hate needles and it always feels so weird in my hand. Big mistake it is way worse in your arm haha. I asked if they could just break my water like last time instead of pitocin and they agreed. They broke my water at 10:15 am and I was already at a 6. My contractions were coming every 4 to 5 minutes and they weren’t that bad so I thought maybe I was going to be eased into this labor unlike last time. At 11:02 the contractions picked up and got bad really fast! 

That’s the one thing I hate about being induced I don’t get to ease into my contractions they are just bad really fast. The contractions were terrible and hurt so bad! I had a strong urge to push but they checked and I was only an 8. After they checked me I literally felt like his head was coming out with some of my contractions and I felt like my body was naturally pushing him out. It kind of freaked me out because you always hear “listen to your body” but they had told me I was only an 8. I didn’t want to hurt my body or the baby. I didn’t know what to do ( I should of had Dane look and see if he could see the head). This feeling only lasted through 3 contractions and then it went away. But it hurt so much, like a burning stretching feeling, that it made me want to get the epidural just for the pushing part. By now my contractions were some of the worst pain I have ever felt. I always want to try going natural but I am also a wimp. I asked for the epidural. I should also mention that since I was induced I had a different doctor. She was amazing and one of the best in the practice but if I had my other doctor I feel like maybe she would have helped me through this part. 

They came in and said instead of an epidural they would just give me a spinal. This just meant they would give me one shot of numbing medicine that would take effect immediately and they wouldn’t put the tube in that they do with epidurals so you can continually get medicine. I got the spinal ( pretty sure that’s what they called it) at 11:54 am at an 8. It kicked in immediately and it was the greatest feeling ever. 

When I go into labor I get full body shakes, which is very tiring. So this was a nice break from those. Not too long after that, lots of nurses came into our room. We were concerned and they told us that Crew’s heart rate dropped and they were trying to figure out what was going on. They told us that sometimes when the heart rate drops that means the baby is moving down and ready to come out. She lifted up my gown and his head was already coming out! I started pushing at 12:13 and I pushed 3 times through very close contractions and he was born at 12:18! When he came out he had the cord loosely wrapped around his neck and he didn’t cry a ton (compared to my other kids)but the doctor wasn’t worried at all. His apgar score was a 9 so he was just fine! 

He was perfect! He looked just like his siblings and I did some skin to skin with him. I was so excited to have another baby in our family. 

This is were it gets a little scary. I was having some blood clots after so the doctor gave me some medicine that I had to take as a suppository. Then, my shakes started again and came back really strong. My uterus also wasn’t contracting so the doctor gave me a shot in my thigh to help with that (so glad I was numb now for all this stuff). They told me I had almost lost as much blood as someone who had a c- section. During all of this they kept trying to get my blood pressure and it kept failing because I was shaking so bad and couldn’t relax. When they did get a reading the bottom number was over 90. It stayed over 90 for multiple readings. 

They gave me medicine in my IV to relax me and they tested me for preeclampsia. They told me the medicine would make me drowsy and it really did. Everything was fuzzy and I just wanted to sleep. My bleeding was slowing down and my uterus was contracting like it was suppose to. My nurse was also feeding me crackers and apple juice to get some sugar in me. It was nice to eat but I was so drowsy and wanted to sleep. The medicine was working and my shakes finally went away and they got a good blood pressure reading for me. Then the after birth contractions started. They didn’t hurt but they were uncomfortable. Then I started having chest pain. 

I decided to tell them because I seemed to be having so many issues so they wanted to get me an EKG. The doctor asked if my pain happened when I was having a contraction and I hadn’t noticed so I started to pay attention. They were but she wanted the EKG just in case. I got the EKG and a couple hours later (the computer systems went down around this time so results were taking longer to get) the EKG and blood work both came back normal. I was in the labor and delivery room until 5pm that night! This whole time I was super emotional because I just wanted to hold my little baby boy and I couldn’t. It was super intense and poor Dane was holding Crew while trying to comfort me and hold it together himself. It was a very eventful day but I was so glad to just relax after and finally hold Crew.

I can’t believe we are a family of 5! We love our Crew and he gets endless snuggles from everyone. His brother and sister love him so much and sometimes a little too much! I can’t wait to watch our little boy grow. 

Ettley’s Birth Story:

She’s here! Ettley Kate Rahlf was born on May 2nd and was 6 lbs 13 ounces! Her name comes from a small town Dane served in called Ettlingen. So, trying to stick to German (ish) names we changed it to Ettley. We simply liked the name Kate and thought we would give her a more normal middle name in case she wasn’t too fond of Ettley when she got older. 

As many of you know, I was convinced Ettley would make her appearance around 35 weeks because I had started to dilate and that didn’t happen with Adler. Weeks went by and she still had’t come (my doctor was glad I made it to 37 weeks). I was confused and just wanted her to arrive. At 38 week I was was certain 3 different times that labor was actually starting (having a ton of BH contractions I couldn’t tell anymore what was real and what wasn’t). I went in for my doctor appointment at 38 weeks and 6 days and I had progressed to between a 4 and 5 cm dilated and I was now 80% effaced. My doctor also kept saying how low she was and how she didn’t want to feel too much because she was scared she would break my water. I told her I was all for that! I asked for a membrane sweep but my doctor said I had to be 39 weeks. I was off by one day! Since I was dilated so far and having contractions they wanted to induce me if I hadn’t given birth by May 2nd. I was ok with this even though I knew lots of people didn’t like to be induced because I was sure I would give birth before then. But no baby. We got closer and closer to the 2nd and she wasn’t coming out. I gave birth to Adler at 38 weeks and 4 days, so I was shocked I went longer with Ettley even though I had progressed a lot more with her. 

Once it was clear that she wasn’t coming out I just accepted that I was going to be induced. I had asked my doctor if we could just try breaking my water first and see if that started labor since I was contracting a ton and she agreed. I was grateful because I have heard pitocin is horrible. I think Ettley knew she was going to be born on the 2nd because on the 1st I started having more symptoms and I could tell she was getting ready to be born the next day. 

I actually really liked the idea of being induced because I am such a planner that I liked knowing exactly when we would meet our little girl. I also wanted to be induced because Dane works an hour away and I was so nervous he wouldn’t be there with me when labor started. This way I knew he wouldn’t miss anything. I had packed my bag at 35 weeks so we just threw a few last minute items in, spent some time with Adler (I was struggling with the fact that he wasn’t going to be my only child anymore), and then tried to get some sleep. We woke up on the 2nd, I showered and got ready to meet our baby girl. 

It was weird going to the hospital when I wasn’t in pain but it made answering questions at the beginning really easy and the first impression the nurse got of me was a good one because I was happy and pain free. We were scheduled for a 7 am induction but when we arrived another lady was in active labor so I hung out in my room until about 9am. My mom was able to come and be there with Dane and I which was nice (thanks Brittany for watching Adler!). We just hung out and talked enjoying my pain free moments. They asked me if I wanted an epidural and I said I wasn’t against the idea but I wanted to try natural. I think I will always try and go natural even though I do know how amazing the epidural is. They started me on fluids just in case I wanted to get it. At 9:40 am my doctor came in and checked me. I was 5 cm dilated, 85% effaced and she was engaged. She then broke my water which was the weirdest feeling ever! My water broke naturally with Adler so laying down and having it happen that way was a strange sensation. 

Here is where it gets crazy:

My contractions came on strong and fast just from breaking my water. It’s true what they say about how you forget what the pain is like. I tried to mentally prepare for it but since I didn’t really get eased into my contractions that was a little hard. They told me to let them know when I felt the sensation to push. Well I endured contractions and then felt the sensation to push after 1 hour!!!!!!! I thought there is no way it went that fast but she checked and I was at a 9.5!! At this point I really wanted the epidural. I got the full body shakes again and the contractions were wearing me out. She said even though I was a 9.5 I could progress really quickly to a 10 or it could still take 30 minutes. 30 minutes= a lifetime so I said I wanted the epidural. While I was about to get the epidural I felt the sensation to push again but it wasn’t strong so I got the epidural at 10:40am. It almost kicked in instantly which was great because it was time to push 10 minutes later. I pushed through two sets of contractions and she was out!!!!!!! My labor was a total of 1 hour and 20 minutes with 20 minutes of pushing!!!! I couldn’t believe how fast it went! I was super glad now that I was induced because Dane would have just barely made it in time to watch me push her out.

Looking back, I regret getting the epidural. Usually you get 100 units and I only got 7 that’s how fast I delivered after getting it. It was enough to take the edge off which was nice but I wish I had just gotten some pain medicine through my IV. It’s easy to look back and say “I wish I had just toughed it out” but with Adler I had to push for three hours so I was a little nervous that would happen again. It was nice to have the epidural for the after birth stuff and I was able to relax right after and hold my sweet Ettley instead of being sore and tired. Hopefully birth number 3 will be just as fast and I will go natural then (I hope I can do it at least with one of my kids). 

Ettley was born at 11:22am. After she was born I did skin to skin right away. I love looking down at my children right after they are born for the first time. The look they give me is amazing and the love I feel is indescribable. They took her to weigh her and I thought for sure she would weigh more than her brother (7lbs 2 ounces) because I was pregnant longer. Nope. She was a little girl! She weighed 6lbs 13 ounces and was 20 inches long. She wanted to nurse right away. She is a way better nurser than Adler even though the start was really rocky (another post for another time). 

The hospital was experiencing flu outbreaks so they told us Adler wouldn’t be allowed to visit her in the hospital. This made us sad and we decided to stay only one night. Brittany came to visit Ettley and Dane was able to go out and see Adler right after she was born but I stayed put mostly due to the fact my legs were numb. I missed Adler a lot but it was nice to spend some time with Ettley. 

We love our Ettley girl and I can’t believe she is almost 1 month! At 2 weeks she was 7lbs 1 ounce. So far she is a total mama’s girl. I love this stage because I get endless cuddles. This was the perfect labor minus the epidural (I will probably regret that forever) and I hope next time is just as good. I love my little family of 4 and even though I was sad Adler wasn’t my only child anymore my love for two children has grown immensely. We can’t imagine life without our Ettley. 

The episode where Rach gives birth was on T.V.....How Perfect!

On our way home!