Baby Zeke was born Tuesday August 14th at 12:15 p.m. 7 lbs 15 ounces and 20 inches long. Here's the story...
Saturday I was starting to feel fairly regular contractions. Just Braxton hicks-like, nothing painful at all, but consistent. By Sunday morning I was feeling these contractions every 5 minutes. Still not painful, but consistent coupled with some mild cramping. We called the Dr. on Sunday and she asked for us to come in that evening to be monitored. I had been given strict instructions by Dane to not have a baby anytime the previous week and Dane's Mom requested I not have the baby until after family pictures. Well family pictures were on Sunday so I asked the Dr. if I could swing by the hospital a little later and she was fine with that. So we showed up for family pictures around 5 on Sunday (amidst regular contractions) and took some maternity shots too, then we left Boston with the family and headed for the hospital.
We had a bag packed, but I knew we wouldn't be staying, because my contractions (although regular) were not intense at all. I got monitored for a few hours and was checked for dilation but I wasn't dilated at all, so they sent us home. I was very excited to go home and sleep in my own bed. The next day contractions continued regularly and I tried to rest most the day. That night we went to a family dinner and swam with cousins, so I decided to hop in the pool and get some exercise (hoping maybe that would help baby along). I did running laps in the pool and played with Boston.
That night I slept ok until 445 am on Tuesday morning. I woke up just kinda knowing "this was it". I hopped in the bath and started to slowly get ready. I made myself breakfast, curled my hair, did my makeup slowly and noticed my contractions were still 5 minutes apart and picking up each time in intensity. At 645 I woke up Dane and told him I was pretty sure this was it. He got ready, we fed Boston breakfast, woke up my Mom , called my Doula and by 845 we were headed to the hospital.
When we got to the hospital they brought us to triage to see how dilated I was. My Doula told me not to be discouraged if I wasn't very far along and based on how I was handling my contractions we all though I probably wasn't that far dilated (especially since on Sunday I was closed). The nurse checked me and this was the first time it didn't hurt and she said I was dilated to almost a 5! I cheered and danced and was SO excited. My Doula was pumped and told me it would be a quick labor and Dane and I were so excited. We got checked in and we hurried to get me hooked up to an IV so I could get some antibiotics in me to treat the Group B strep. The IV went great which was so relieving because every other time I've had an IV it's been TERRIBLE. I labored in the bed for a while in a reclined Yoga position that I really like and continued breathing through my contractions. They still weren't too bad and I loved the breaks in between were wonderful. I then rocked in a chair for a little while, and the contractions were starting to make my teeth chatter cause of the intensity, but again it was totally bearable because of the breaks. Once the meds were in I headed for the bath.
It was really hard to walk and didn't feel good. I got in the tub and was pretty shaky. Dane offered to hop in with me so he put on some extra shorts and a t shirt he brought. We put on music and me and my Doula both started crying when the song, "he hears me" came on. It was all hitting me that this was real and I was feeling really grateful to be able to do this and meet my 2nd child soon. Dane hopped in the tub with me (never thought we would do this haha) and the contractions were getting really intense and close together. I leaned against Dane between contractions and tried to relax. My Doula kept reminding me to breathe and the Yoga classes I had been taking really helped me with this. After maybe 10 minutes (maybe longer?) in the tub I said things were getting really intense so my nurse checked me and I was at an 8. She said usually people dilate about a centimeter an hour, but I was going way faster than that. I don't think it was more than 10 minutes after she checked me that I said I had to push. Everyone hurried me out of the tub as soon as I had a small break between needing to push and I climbed back in the bed. The nurse called the Dr. and said I was ready to deliver, so the Dr. rushed down to the hospital.
The nurses were getting everything ready and I looked at the clock and saw it was before noon and still couldn't believe I was gonna be delivering my baby soon. It didn't seem really. I kept telling everyone I had to push and they said to listen to my body and do what I needed. So when I had to push I pushed, even though no one was set up yet. The Dr. on call showed up (she was my regular Dr.'s wife) and said I was at a 10 and we were ready to go. She climbed up on the table with me, broke my water and it was on!
Pushing was the most intense thing of my life. During transition and pushing it helped if I had Dane extremely close and could just bury my face in his neck. I did some loud grunting and screaming during pushing! I said things like I couldn't do it, he was never gonna get here and I even yelled at Isaac to "get here!!!" It felt like I pushed for hours, but it was only 15 minutes. When his head came out the Dr. told me to stop pushing because the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck pretty tight. There was also some mconium so the Dr. suctioned his mouth quickly and then I pushed the rest of him out. They put him right on my chest and immediately I felt amazing. All the pain was gone and my baby boy with TONS of hair and a cute little chubby body was here! Dane cried and I apologized to Zekey boy for yelling at him. :) We kissed him lots, got a family picture and then they whisked him off to the nursery to check his breathing etc..
A half hour later they brought him back to me and we began nursing. I ate the best meal of my life (grilled cheese, salad and 3 cookies), and was in Heaven. I felt so amazing and overwhelmed with happiness. All in all we were only at the hospital for 3 hours before he was born and I labored from start to finish for about 7 hours (only 2 of which were actually difficult). It was awesome! Boston came to the hospital a couple hours later and it was so fun to introduce my two boys. He was mostly interested in the buttons though. Dane's family came by and brought my Mom with them. After awhile they were ready to leave, but I wasn't ready for my Mom to go, so she stayed the rest of the evening with us and later that night, Dane's parents brought Boston by to say goodnight and take my Mom home.
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| Heading into the hospital |
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| In triage waiting to get checked |
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| Found out I'm at almost a 5!! |
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| Paaarrtty! Bring it on! |
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| Baby Isaac. He looks so much like both Dane and I! |
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| 7 lbs 15 ounces |
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| Looks like big brother here |
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| Right after having him. |
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| Brother meeting Isaac for the first time |
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| Doesn't look too thrilled here, but he was actually very sweet with Isaac |
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| Touching Isaac's hands |
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| Being soft |
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| Favorite picture of Isaac. He looks just like Boss but different noses |
Boss slept with Grandma both nights we were gone and had lots of fun with her. We had to stay in the hospital for 2 days so Isaac could be monitored because they like to get 2 rounds of antibiotics in for Group B strep and we only had time enough for 1. Boston came by twice a day while we were there. He really missed us so we tried to give him lots of attention when he came by. Yesterday we played Doggies (Boss' favorite pretend game with me,... we just both pretend to be dogs. :) We also did some learning time and devotional in the hospital and I could tell it meant a lot to Boss.
I've been writing this post over the course of the last couple days, but just to update things are still going great. We're getting some sleep and I'm doing the night shifts all by myself. :) Last time I had Dane help with everything, but this time I feel like I can handle it. Boston is still adjusting to all the change but we're trying to help him out with it. We're gonna buy him a doll that he can feed a bottle to and take care of. He likes to help with Zeke where he can and today we gave Zeke a bath together. I'm also trying to take time out for just Boss by playing with him. Today we went on a date all by ourselves and Boss was thrilled. We left Isaac with Grandma and he slept the whole time. Me and Boss headed to the mall to ride the train and surprise Daddy at work and then stopped by our favorite kiosk to play with the remote control helicopters and race cars.
We're getting this two kid thing figured out. :) The hardest part for me is wanting to spend more time with both my boys. I'm actually excited to wake up with Isaac tonight, just so I can have uninterrupted one on one time with him. Ok...now time to try and get some sleep. :)
