Ryder's Birth Story

My mommy-mind is starting to hit high gear, which means I am getting more and more forgetful. SO I need to get Ryder's birth story written down.

I have wanted an unmedicated, natural childbirth with every single one of my pregnancies. We have plannned and prepared for that and I have really tried to go naturally. But that just hasn't happened. And I am okay with that. I applaud all of the women who do have their babies unmedicated (my mama) (and by no means am I belittling everyone who gets an epidural - I do, too, afterall). It is something that I really want to be able to do, but I also want to remember my children's births and not be passed out because I am SO exhausted after my 10+ hours of heavy labor (23 with West). So, while I had fantasized of a fast labor, going in and already being at a 5 and 90% effaced, that just didn't happen. Instead, here's what did:

I went in on Monday morning for my 39 week apt. I had scheduled it at the end of my 39th week because I wanted to get my membranes stripped. The idea was that it would hopefully jump start this whole labor thing so that I could have the baby before my Dr. went out of town on Wed the 21st. She has delivered my other two boys and I just love her. She had asked Jeff and I previously if we would want to be induced since she was going out of town, but we really didn't want to do that. I am all for our bodies going into labor naturally and when the baby is ready. But there's nothing like a good jump start, right? (Typically getting stripped will not do anything if your body isn't ready, just fyi) While we were there, Dr. S said we could just get put on the induction list for Tues. morning and we could always say no if we didn't want to. So we were put on the induction list, but I knew we would say no-- I mean, and induction is pretty much the opposite of an unmedicated, natural labor.

Monday dragged on, I kept hoping that every contraction was doing a lot in the way of getting my body ready, but they weren't all that strong. I had them all day long pretty consistently, just not frequently and strong enough. By the end of the day I was giving up hope that it was going to happen. Then they really kicked in after we put the boys to bed. (8ish)

I was frantic about getting the house ready and bags ready and everything the boys would need, etc, etc. I called my friend to have her watch the boys and we were all set. Except, the contractions kept coming nice and strong, but not often enough to cause any real concern. Around midnight I started getting frustrated. Jeff and I kept going back and forth with the pros and cons of getting induced. We kept hoping that I would just go into labor for good. I didn't want to be induced- for some reason that felt like giving up- because it meant I wouldn't be going naturally. (if you are un-medicated when you get induced, way to go you!) Jeff finally suggested we pray about it since we couldn't make a decision. We had been going back and forth for days and I was just SO stressed about it all.

So we prayed. We prayed to do what was right for us, but most importantly, for this baby. After making our decision we immediately felt peace wash over us. We knew that the decision we were making was right and that we would be meeting our baby tomorrow. We couldn't wait!

After a very sleepless night (due to heavy contractions until aprox. 5 am) I was woken up at 7 with the phone call to come in to the hospital. This was it!!! We took the kiddos to my friend, Steph's (thank you thank you) then headed in. YAY!!!

After checking in and getting started (by 9 am) we took it easy and started making all the phone calls to let family know where we were and that it was going to happen. We collected birth height/weight predictions... and then we waited. My nurse was AWESOME. We really really loved her fun personality and how easy she was to talk to. I haven't always had the best nurses, so it was really cool to get someone who we absolutely loved. We talked names with her since we were still SO undecided on what to name this kiddo. She had some interesting suggestions. My mom came in around 10ish (I think, I'm already starting to forget minute details) and helped to pass the time. I tried to sleep, but that didn't happen- my epidural had me completely numb on one entire side of my body, but no matter how much we moved me I still had a LOT of pain in my lower right side. I pretty much felt every contraction, just on half my body. But the pain was definitely manageable and I love me my epidural. Basically, I progressed fairly slowly...all the nurses and my doctor thought I would be fast since he was my 3rd. My body didn't seem to get that memo, however. But good things come to those who wait, right.
Dr. Savage came in and broke my water sometime in the middle of the day. There was meconium in it, which meant the nicu would have to be on hand..and also meant it was good that he was coming today. Another few days in there while my body slowly labored at home wouldn't have been good for him.

More trying to sleep, talking, waiting, visiting, and flavored ice chips. (so much better than plain)

My awesome nurse had to leave at 2.:( We had hoped he would get here by then. But my next nurse was super nice and did a great job.

Around 4:15ish pm I finally felt the pressure that is THE pressure. The kind you want to feel because you know you'll get to meet that sweet baby. I was SO happy. We got the nurse to come check me and then have the dr. called in.

And then. THEN I could start pushing!!!! He took a bit of time to get out because he was flipped the wrong way (not breech), his face was facing the wrong way, and then I had to get his little shoulders up and over my pelvic bone. Or was it under? Whatever it was, he was good and stuck and I had to do some extra pushing to turn him the right way. But he was so worth it! Dr. Savage immediately put him on my tummy to see, Jeff cut the cord, I cried and hugged and loved him, and then he was whisked over to the nicu people. (who happened to be in our ward, how cool is that?)

After he was all checked over and started pinking up and being okay, they brought him over to me for some skin to skin bonding. Oh I love my baby.

Childbirth is amazing and incredible no matter how it occurs, and I am so grateful for my strong and healthy babies. I am so blessed to be a part of such an incredible miracle.

We just love this little boy.