Labor of Love!

Finally, I have sometime to put this story together. I actually started writing this a week ago, and kept forgetting to come back to finish it and actually post it. The little man is now 3 weeks old!

So..here goes...

So, despite my hopes of goober arriving early, at the latest, on time...Goober did not cooperate! As my due date of May 10th, came and went, each day came with "maybe today" and each day ended with "maybe tonight" and each morning started with "still not yet!" It was a long 9 days! So, as we got further along, our doctor advised us that he didn't want me to go past 41 and a half weeks to avoid concerns for the baby. He encouraged me that he was confident that I would progress well with being induced, because I was already 1.5 cm dilated and 80% effaced. I was worried about being induced, because I was afraid that if it didn't go well, then I would end up in a C-section.

Well, after some time to think and pray about it, I was finally at peace with the induction. I really do trust my doctor and know that he would not move forward if he wasn't confident that it would go smoothly. One thing I love about our doc, is that he is really middle of the road, and confident. He doesn't lean towards the extremes, which is comforting.

Anyway..we did have a non stress test and a bio-physical profile done on Monday, May 18th. At that ultrasound the Tuesday morning.

Bright and early, after a stop at McDonalds for my last meal, we were at the hospital, with our friend Allison, who was our Doula. (Basically servant to the parents during labor and delivery). After all the paperwork and basic set up...they started the pitocin at 6:30am. Ok...now just time to wait.

The doctor came in at 8am to break my water...there was no turning back at this point. I hadn't progressed much by this point.. I was still only 2 cm!

I labored from 6:30am to 2pm with out the epidural. I knew I would want it at some point, but wanted to go for as long as I could with out it. I was glad to have labored with out it. I was able to offer up the pain for family and friends, and know what it feels like to go through labor.

But, finally...it was time for the epidural. The nurse checked me one more time, and I still hadn't progressed at all!! WHAT?!?! All that pain, and I hadn't progressed at all?!?!?! Ok--we are in for the long haul, we are going to be here until midnight, at least!

I was worried about the pain of getting the epidural...but I am glad to report it wasn't all that bad after all. Once we got it timed between the contractions, I did fine! And can I just say...epidurals are my friend!! I was so much happier once I had the "hapi-dural" as my doc called it. From that point, I was awake, alert and talking fine through contractions. My legs felt like they each weighed about 100 pounds, but I didn't care, I felt no pain.

I was all ready to take a nap after my doc came in at 5pm to check me...well, he comes in, checks to see how far along I am, and he proceeds to tell everyone else (nurse, med student, etc) to get their gloves on, so they can check me as well. He had a funny look on his face. As the nurse checked me she got a huge smile on her face, and Dr. Ballas, told her not to say anything..he wanted the med student to check me and tell him what she discovered. He is a great teacher (at my expense), good thing we liked this med student. I was COMPLETE, 10 cm and ready to push! I couldn't believe it! (So much for that nap I was hoping for!)

I started pushing at about 5:15pm, and by 6:20pm we had Jacob Henry in our arms! Dr. Ballas ended up having to use the vacuum to get him out, because he was stuck on my pelvic bone.

As soon as Jacob was out, they gave him to Brian and I...we were in tears right away! It was the most amazing moment! I couldn't believe I was holding our child in my arms! We asked them not to announce if the baby was a boy or a girl, so that we could discover it on our own. After enjoying the moment for a bit, I finally checked to see if we had a Jacob or an Abigail...clearly it was a Jacob! We got to hold him for about 15-20 minutes! It was great!


Then after they took him to clean him up, weigh him, measure him, all that good stuff, they wrapped him up and handed him to Brian. Allison was there to capture that "Golden Minute!" These pictures still make me cry! As Brian picked him up, he said "Hello son! I'm your Dad!"



So, there you have it...our family has begun a new chapter and we are so blessed!

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