The Baby Place Meridian

Bridger is officially 7 months now! Really?!? Where did time go? Funny how 9 months goes by so slow when you are pregnant and then once baby is here you can not seem to find the brakes and slow it all down. 
Seriously this guy has been such a sweet addition to our family.
I am getting a new phone in a few day and with that will be loosing my text messages wrote back and forth between Ben and I the day I went into labor with Bridger so I am documenting the events of the day here. 

Bridger was born at The Baby Place in Meridian. This was the perfect choice for US. I want to emphasis that because I don't want anyone to think I am passing judgment on those who feel safer in a hospital or with a doctor. You do what is right for you and your family. 
My first Birth with my daughter was a really hard one. It was short 4 hours but of course doctors like to help push you along anyway so they broke my water right away and gave me a pill that mimics pit. Contractions were one right on top of the other the whole time, I got an epidural but things were progress so quickly it didn't work. Finally they gave me something else that didn't take the pain away but made me so loopy I felt like I wasn't even there. I remember feeling like I was floating above watching it all happen but not connected at all. Well once I started pushing the epidural kicked in and I was so numb I couldn't feel anything so I pushed hard and fast causing sever taring and swelling. 
Once Shelby was born she was so lethargic from all the medication she would not wake up to eat causing sever jaundice and as a result of the jaundice she became even more tired. We had to buy bottles and force feed her while she was sleeping. Her levels got to 24.7 and they finally put her on the lights.We got got her eating and her levels down.  She is a very healthy girl now. 
Toby was born at The birthing center in Nampa. This was also a great experience we still had an OB and were right across the street from the hospital should any problems arise. 
When we got pregnant with Bridger one of my friends told me about The Baby Place and her wonderful experience there. We made an appointment to meet with them and tour the facility. Colleen met with us and showed us around and answered all of our questions. We both felt comfortable with them and had a good feeling about choosing to have our third child there. 
Our first appointment was when I was 13 weeks pregnant. It had taken 2 years to get pregnant with Bridger so I was very anxious to hear his heartbeat and know he was ok. Sam did my first appointment and when she went to find the heartbeat my own heart was beating so fast and  hard she kept picking that up and couldn't find his. Colleen came in and did and ultrasound. I remember waiting for her to tell me something bad she was quite for a second and then said "Mommy say Hello to your baby". Even as I write this now I tear up it was such a relief to see him in there moving around healthy and striving  I started sobbing of course and she couldn't even get a picture until I calmed down. I was embarrassed and said sorry and she told me "no thank you for making my day". 
Ok now on to birth day!
I had an appointment at 12:30 that day, my due date was the next day so I asked Sam if she could strip my membranes. She did and said "ok you were a 3 when I started now you are a 5" I was kinda shocked and  said "So what do I do now?" she said " Go home and wait. I will probably see you tonight but I have seen weirder things happen."
So I went home. Ben asked how my appointment went I told him and headed off to work. My friend came over and we walked around the neighborhood. I was getting contractions but had, had them before for a few hours and then they would go away. We got back to my house and I headed over to get my daughter from the bus stop. We came home and  the contractions continued so I  told the kids to watch Netflix while I took a bath. I thought maybe that would make the contractions stop.
4:45 I text Ben -Man this false labor is really starting to suck.
Ben text back- Are you sure it is false labor? 
I text- Yeah I think so because I don't think they are lasting long enough.
5:10- I call Ben- Ok I am in a lot of pain I am going to call my midwife. He says he is coming home.
I call Jerusha and tell her what is going on but I not sure if I should come in because I don't know if it is real or not. She says " come in and let me check you I wold feel much better."
5:20- Text Ben- where are you?
By now I am crawling around my bathroom floor crying.
Ben texts back- On my way traffic hour though...
5:25- JJ shows up to get the kids. I am leaning against a wall in my bathroom crying.
Ben walks in about 5 minutes later, loads the bag and car seat in the car and takes me out. We drive to The Baby Place the whole time I am half standing in the car. At some point I remember looking at the clock in the car and it said 5:45.
When we got to The Baby Place Sam, Jenn and Holly were waiting outside for me they rushed to the car to help us get out. We walked in and Sam said she needed to check me and I told her "if this isn't the real thing I am not doing it" (really at this point I was still worried it was false labor). She checked me and said I was an 8 and 100% thinned out. Jerusha came in and I got in the tub and 30 minutes later Bridger was born. I was so fast I couldn't believe it.
I actually reached down and helped guide him out then pulled him up to me. I got to sit there and hold him for about 20 min. umbilical cord still attached. I loved how everything was so peaceful they didn't rush him off to clean and weigh and measure him they just let us sit there and enjoy the moment. Finally when I was ready they cut the cord and handed him to Ben while I got out of the tub and cleaned up then they gave him back to me and I laid there and cuddled and fed him. When he was done about an hour later they took him and got his weight, cleaned him up and got him dressed. I remember Jenn laughing at me because I had brought a preemie outfit and she couldn't get it buttoned over his enormous diaper.
  We hung out there and rested for a few hours then went home about 4 hours after we arrived to sleep in our own bed with our new little baby.  
Ben took this picture and sent it to all our family to let them know Bridger was here. Funny thing is most of them did not even know I was in labor.

We wrote "Welcome to the world Bridger Lyman Wallace." This is also how we revealed his name.


I had such a wonderful experience at The Baby Place. I felt loved and cared for and completely safe. I love and respect those women so much!