Cru Oliver: A Birthing Story

Warning: This post contains pictures of a VERY new baby. As in, still attached by the cord. There are no "stirrup" shots, or blood, but still, just in case...consider yourself warned.

I went to the doctor on Friday, and was dilated to a 3. After having my membranes stripped, I started having contractions more regularly. I took the kids to a park and walked around, trying to get them into a good pattern. They stuck around 10 minutes apart, so I was not hopeful for having a Friday baby. We went to Home Depot on Saturday morning, and my contractions were still a pretty consistent 10 minutes apart. The kids did the little builders workshop thing, and we tried to stay busy the rest of the day to see if we could get my contractions to come more frequently. I had given up by evening, and Rick went to bed at around 8:30. By about 10:30, my contractions were around 5 minutes apart, and starting to be VERY uncomfortable. I was sitting on the exercise ball, and still couldn't get the back pain to go away. So around 11:00, I woke Rick up, and after another half hour, we decided to get someone to come stay with the kids (thanks Melanie and Tirsa!) and we got to the hospital around 1:00am. I was a 4. After being monitored, and having pretty consistent contractions at 5 minutes apart, I was still a 4. Bummer. But my cervix had thinned *some*, so they called my doctor, and he told them to go ahead and put me on pitossin. If I hadn't been so darn tired, and sick, and sick of being tired and sick, I might have just gone home and waited for things to kick into gear on their own. But as it was, I was thrilled to be staying, and was willing to take the "pit"!

I sort of got stuck at a 6, and again at an 8...partially due to the fact that it took my doctor FOREVER to break my water. But I was OK because I got an epidural. Now, those of you who know me are wondering what in the heck I was thinking. I had MaKaty with no epidural, and was very clear about not wanting one this time, too. But I was so so so so tired, and was still coughing so often. I'm sure I could have done it, but I decided that if there was a chance that I could get some rest, I would take it. So I got the epi. And I have no regrets, honestly. It was a far better experience this time than it had been 7 years ago when I got one with Hannah. I could still feel and move my legs, and could feel each contraction, without having the unending back pain. And...perhaps most important...I did not die each time I had a coughing fit.

Cru was posterior, which is mostly likely what caused the delay when I was dilated to an 8. But I found a better way to sit, and suddenly I could feel him descend and I knew I was ready to push. The nurses paged my doc (who was in a church meeting that he was officiating, and so that delayed things a bit), and they had me do a practice pushing session while waiting for him to come. After pushing through one contraction, they told me NOT to push again until he was there. My doctor walked in the door, with his tie tucked between his shirt buttons, and two pushes later, Cru had arrived!

Here is a shot of the monitor there at the end when my contractions were strong and like clockwork...the blue line is the contractions, and the red one is Cru's heart rate.
All ready for baby!
Just arrived!
Daddy cutting the cord!
My first time holding my second son. They were awesome about letting me spend time with Cru right away. They didn't whisk him off to be weighed. In fact, they just cleaned him off, and even gave him his shots right there on my chest. I loved it!
I so love this picture because of Rick's hand...it looks so big, and Cru looks so small!
Cru was grunting a lot, so they kept listening to his lungs to make sure everything was clear. Respiratory even came in and checked him, but he's apparently just a grunter.
Welcome to the cold world, little dude! His poor face was so bruised! He had little broken blood vessels in his forhead. Poor poor little man!
Some of you have asked about this picture from the last post. No, it was NOT staged! When the nurse put him in the scale, he grabbed on, and wouldn't let go. So. Stinking. Cute.
And then after everyone had checked him out, they snuggled him under my gown and we got to hang out.
Your Mommy and Daddy love you, Cruzer!
And guess who was so so so so so happy to be done?!?!
Many many thanks to my friend Amy Hummel, who witnessed, and so well documented Cru's birth! I am so lucky to have photos of all the excitement...especially since this is our last baby. So thanks Amy!

And stay tuned. I have more adorable pics of Cru to add in the next couple of days!