And I thought I'd include Micah's birth story just for fun. It is sooo different from Evie's birth story, that is for sure!
(copied and pasted from the one I posted on facebook a few days after Micah was born)
It all started on Sat. night 12/18. Josh and I had been watching a
movie and the entire time I kept feeling sort of strong menstrual cramps.
They didn't go away so once the movie was over I told Josh that I think
we should start timing them. That was about 8:15. Things progressed
through the night and I tried to labor at home as long as possible. Of
course I couldn't sleep on account of the gut-wrenching pain, so by the time we
called the midwife at about 4:30 am I was already pretty exhausted. On
the phone we told her that my contractions were about 2-3 min. apart. etc.,
etc., and she listened to me have one over the phone. She said because I
talked through the beginning of that contraction (I was really just trying to
be polite and act like it wasn't happening) that I should stay home for another
hour or so and then call back. At about 6:00 I basically called her and
said we were coming in. I was in pretty intense pain and did not want to
be at home anymore.
When we got to the hospital I was checked and unfortunately
only had dilated to about 3 cm. Tara, the midwife told me that I could
either go back home, start pitocin/epidural, or walk around for a while and see
if it helped. We decided on the third option. So for another hour I
tried to walk around and squatted during contractions to try and
dilate a little more. Tara checked me after an hour and I was still only about
3 cm. Since I had already been laboring for so long and was getting
tired, she suggested giving me a dose of nubain and benedryl to rest me for a
while and see if I could dilate any further. We decided on that
option.
I suppose if you are hard core you could technically
disqualify me from the drug-free category of labor. However,
the benedryl was only to put me to sleep for a while and the nubain basically
took away 0% of the pain (the intent was to "take the edge off" ha!)
Anyhow, they started the IV and I immediately fell asleep. It was
the weirdest sleep I have ever had, no joke. I would sleep in
between contractions, which were about 2-4 min. apart, and then wake up
writhing in pain. It was like the worst nightmare ever. I think this
lasted about 2 or 3 hours. Tara checked me and at that point I had
dilated to 6 cm. She was encouraged by this and decided we should move me
back to the midwifery center, she would break my water, and then we would go
from there.
Back in the midwifery center Tara broke my water.
Unfortunately there was meconium in the fluid, which meant the baby had
been in distress at some point and they needed to put me on continuous fetal
monitoring, which also meant moving me back out of the midwifery center and
back into the labor and delivery room. Tara still let me use the hot tub for a
while and it really helped. I was in the jacuzzi tub for about an hour
and I pretty much dilated from 7-9 cm. They got me out of the tub and
wheeled my back to labor and delivery to start the fetal monitoring. And
for the record, traveling in a wheelchair for any distance while you are having
contractions is pretty awful.
Back on the L and D floor, it didn't take long before I was
able to push. Every twenty minutes or so Tara would make me switch
pushing positions to try and get the baby down and out. I am so thankful
for her guidance and wisdom and also the wonderful support of my husband during
this time. If I didn't have them encouraging me and "updating"
me every step of the way I might have lost it!
After two hours of pushing, Micah came at 4:25 pm.
Since there was the issue of meconium he had to be suctioned out by
the pediatrician right away. After that they put him on my
chest and I got to look at him for the first time. He was a sweet,
healthy, beautiful baby boy.
sweet baby Micah 7 lbs. 1 oz. 19.5 in |
I was bleeding pretty badly after delivery and they were
slightly concerned that my uterus wasn't clotting properly. It became
pretty apparat after a while that I was suffering from a postpartum hemorrhage
because my uterus was so tired and had been laboring for so many hours.
They tried to get me up to the restroom and I almost passed out.
Immediately they put me on oxygen and started another IV with fluids and
pitocin to try and get my uterus to shrink down faster. They were
thinking I needed to possibly have a blood transfusion in the morning but
praise the Lord my blood counts were high enough that I didn't have to.
We did have to stay an extra day in the hospital, but it was fine.
He was so worth all the work. Mommy loves you forever Micah. <3
A very HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY to one super cool dude! We love your lil' guy, especially Giavanna, who always asks about him. :) Hope he has a great day! Sorry we couldn't make his celebration, but believe me, he is celebrated in our house, always. Love, All 7 Buttons
ReplyDeleteLove that boy!
ReplyDeleteAw! Happy Birthday to him! Love reading birth stories :)
ReplyDeletethanks Sarah!
DeleteTwo Years Old! What great adventures we've had, Micah! Great times sitting on the motorcycles together and starting them up over and over again. The time when your little posterior slid off the swing in Mike and Molly's yard but you held on with your mighty hands until I could catch you on the up-swing. Another time when the chain on the swing at Clarence's house, across the street, broke the moment you sat on it! The air show when the smoke came out of the airplane. Throwing toys down from the loft. Playing in the lion fountain water. Marching and dancing around while listening to the Disney Electric Light Parade song and the Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride song. Playing with toy motorcycles on the hospital floor at Evie's birthday party, and on the table in my office. And driving Mamma's car on Sundays to pick up Mommy and Daddy when it's time to go home. And playing in the Corvette (Race Car) with the top down...
ReplyDeleteWhen Abraham and SARAH, in the Bible, had a little boy like you, they named him "Laughter" (Isaac), because he brought them so much JOY. But Isaac couldn't have brought his family any more joy and laughter than you've brought your mamma and me, and all of us. We love you, Micah. Happy Birthday!