He is still such a good baby and we are all doing really well. We took him to the doctor's today and he now weighs 8 pounds 10 ounces. He is a growing boy!
So now for the birth story. I have really been debating on how much to share and wanted to keep this short and simple, but it ended up with quite a few details that I really don't ever want to forget.
I was really leaning towards a natural, unmedicated childbirth. A week after my due date my doctor felt it was best for me to be induced. I was disappointed because it was not natural but together Marcus and I felt that it was the right thing to do.
Wednesday night we checked into the hospital at 8:00 p.m. and I was started on an oral medication, Cytotek. They told us to get comfortable (yeah right!) and that it would probably be a long night. Within two doses of the Cytotek and several hours I was dilated to a three and having quite frequent contractions. I was then started on Pitocin and very quickly my contractions became very intense and so frequent that I was only getting about a minute or less to rest in between. I woke Marcus up and had him help me relax through the contractions which I was feeling mostly in my back. He was pushing on my back with all of his strength, and I was starting to doubt that I could really do this. By 7:30 a.m. I was dilated to a 7 and thrilled to hear that these crazy painful contractions were actually doing something. I decided at this point to get an epidural. I realized that there wasn't much about my labor that was natural and so I felt alright about getting an epidural.
At 8:00 a.m. and just after I received the epidural I was checked again and already to a 9. We were so excited and thought that our baby would be here really soon now. Sadly this is where things stopped. I wasn't progressing any further and we found out that the baby was posterior and still sitting up really high. Hour after hour they checked me, but nothing was changing. With each contraction the baby's heart rate was really dropping and we were all starting to get worried.
At 1:15 p.m. the doctor came in to tell me that we had one hour for things to change before needing a c-section. I had already been dilated to a 9 for over four hours and there were starting to be some serious risks. I lost it at this point, and the tears began to flow. I was exhausted and now so scared with the possibility of major surgery. I wondered why this was happening to me when it was so different from what I had planned. I couldn't stop my tears and asked Marcus for a priesthood blessing. We all prayed that things would change.
The hour passed and nothing changed. It was time and we all knew it. We waited for them to prep the OR, for the doctor to get there, and for the anesthesiologist to come give me more of the epidural. As we were waiting for all of these things, the fetal monitor that was measuring the baby's heart rate fell off and suddenly we had no idea how the baby was doing. I felt completely panicked and realized in that moment how precious this baby was and how quickly everything could change. I knew that the doctor knew best and it truly was time to get this little baby here. I didn't care about what a c-section meant but knew we had to get this baby here and right now.
The anesthesiologist gave me five times the amount of anesthesia I already had and I was numb from my neck down. I was so nervous that everything would work out but felt a sense of comfort and was even able to doze in and out of sleep as they did the procedure. Our sweet baby boy was born at 4:17 p.m. and I could not have been any happier.
Although there was very little about my labor and delivery that went as I imagined it, I am just so grateful for an incredible doctor who knew what she was doing, for modern medicine and the ability they had to get my baby here when he needed to come, and for a loving Heavenly Father who was watching over us and protecting our sweet little boy and providing us with the comfort we needed. I know this birth was a complete miracle and I am so grateful to have him here.
11 comments:
Beautiful picture of you and your sweet boy!
Sorry that your labor and delivery were so rough, sounds like you made it through like a champ though!
I have found that it doesn't matter how our babies get here, but just that they do end up in our arms. I definately know all about the "not natural" or "not normal" ways to have a baby ;-) Even more so than an epidural and c section, so in my books you were very brave and did what you needed to do to get him here safe, and that makes you an amazing mother. Congrats!
I'm so glad that you wrote his birth story down. You will always be glad to have it-it's amazing how much we forget...even though it seems like something we will never lose! We are so happy that little guy is here safe and sound!
man chels! I'm so glad everything turned out ok and that you have a healthy CUTE little guy here! Both of my girls were posterior and ALMOST had to do the c-section thing, but instead got them with the tong spatula things... its a crazy time having kids, but once they are here you can't remember the life you had before them. Congrats again! I want to see that little guy and your little self soon
I loved reading this! He really is a little miracle. I love this picture of you. Although you look tired, you look sooo happy. Love it.
i bet you were exhausted chelsea! before i went into labor i kept thinking i didn't want a c-section but once in labor i didn't care about anything but having a healthy baby! i thought since i was induced i would end up having a c-section and it was funny once i got there that morning i didn't really care how they got the baby out! i am glad you are all healthy and happy!
Chels! You are amazing! I hope I can be as brave as you this week! :) He is the cutest little baby! I hope you are doing well and recovering quick!
Congrats!!! I'm so glad you both are doing well. We can't wait to meet him. If you need anything just call, we'd be happy to help in anyway we can :)
That picture is way cute...you both look so relieved to be holding each other. What a scary experience, and I hope your recovery is going well. He sure looks like a little sweetheart.
Marcus and Chelsea, I am so excited that baby Webb is here and he is a cutie. Congratulations!!! Love Janis Kearl
Chelsea! Thank you for sharing that sweet story. Really, what a miracle and you look so happy to have him in your arms. He is perfect and what a cute name. You are such a positive person and I really admire that about you. Enjoy every minute with him, even his nap times...life is nothing without these sweet spirits in our lives huh! I know you will be such a good good mother to him. Wish I could meet him.
I love your perspective. You're right- even though it definitely did not go like you were hoping, he is a beautiful, healthy boy, and that's what matters most. Hope you're healing ok... Thinking about you. :)
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