A Baby Story

We have a baby!  Here's the story.  Friday, September 21st was the big day.  I went in at 9am to be induced.  It was pretty relaxed.  We got checked in and settled then they started my GBS antibiotic and some low dose pitocin.  I started having regular contractions but they weren't super painful.  I was only dilated to a 3 and baby's head was still really high, so I spent a few hours with higher pitocin trying to get the baby's head to be lower so that Angela (my midwife) could break my water.  Finally in the afternoon I got an epidural.  It was the least painful epidural insertion I've had.  I wasn't in a ton of pain, but Angela suggested getting the epidural before she broke my water, which was a really good call. 

One last snuggle with Talia before leaving for the hospital

 

After the epidural the baby's head still wasn't low enough to break my water, so they upped my pitocin even more and that helped.  Angela broke my water around 3:30 and placed an internal electronic fetal heart monitor that we were testing out for the hospital as part of a research study.  I'm really glad that we decided to participate because having the more accurate heart data for baby was helpful as he didn't tolerate contractions well after my water broke.  His heart rate kept dipping with each contraction.  Probably because the cord was in a place that was being squished with each contraction. 

They found a position for me that seemed to help a little, so I was laying all the way back slightly tilted to the left with an oxygen mask.  Not the most comfortable, but it was ok.  My epidural wasn't blocking the pain as contractions got worse, so I decided to have the anesthesiologist re-dose me.  This helped with the pain, but made me very very numb.  I couldn't move at all.  Just when Angela was starting to get nervous that baby's heart rate wasn't improving (she was getting ready to call in the doctors she works with) I told her I was ready to push.  This was around 5:30. 

Luckily Angela had things all set up so I got to work.  I didn't have to push too long, but I did have to push pretty hard.  Our sweet baby was born at 5:42pm.  I immediately got to hold him and they took his vitals and Ian cut the cord while he was on my chest.  I loved having this immediate contact with him!  We decided to name our baby Beckett Lawrence.  He weighed in at 6lbs. 10oz. (our smallest baby!) and was 19.5 inches long.  He cried at birth for about 10 minutes, then after getting cleaned up was quiet as can be and wide awake.  We had some skin to skin time and he nursed for a good 40 minutes.  I've never had a newborn nurse like that!  Then he just looked around while we oogled him. 

 

 

 I don't know if it is because he is my last baby or what, but I was so much more emotional at his birth.  I don't usually cry, but I just couldn't help tearing up as I snuggled this sweet little boy and held my husband's hand.  It was really special.  What a great experience!

Beckett is still just the sweetest, mellowest baby.  Very much like Weston as a baby.  He is by far my best nurser.  He sleeps great and at his weight check yesterday was already up to 6lbs. 13oz.!  I am absolutely smitten with this new little man and am feeling very very blessed to be his mommy.