Owen's Birth

Owen is now a week old and I am feeling so blessed! He is pure joy and I could just burst with love for all my boys.

Last time I updated, I was nearing the 40 week mark with Owen. I went to my doctor's appointment on my due date, and there was no indication labor was around the corner. She decided to set an induction date and the first available time was a week away. It looked like I was going to have another 41 weeker! Four days following my due date I went in for an ultrasound just to make sure the baby was doing ok and to check fluid levels. Everything looked great and the tech reassured me that this baby wasn't going to be big like my last. Phew!

(40 weeks preggo!)

All through my pregnancy, I tried to mentally prepare myself to try for a non-medicated birth. I've had two epidurals with my previous -one great epidural and one not-so-great epidural. Recovery after my last epidural was brutal and I have always heard that generally recovery after a non-medicated birth was easier. I'm not at all against epidurals and even though I was planning a non-medicated birth, I was open to one if my labor went long or if I had to be induced.

So, with my induction date only days away, I was mentally saying good-bye to giving birth with no pain meds and began to prepare myself for the cervidil, pitocin and epidural.

The morning before my induction, I awoke to some contractions. Could this really be it? For a few hours in the wee early hours, the contractions were pretty strong...but not consistent. I tried to time them, only to find them very irregular. I got up and moved around, ate some oatmeal and sat on my exercise ball. We decided to call Steve and Judy and ask them to come just in case this was the start of something. However, after the phone call was made, I laid down on the couch to get some more rest and the contractions became even more irregular...almost non-existent! I figured this was false labor. However, I was holding on to hope that at the very least, the contractions had started the dilation process so when I went in the next day for my induction, it would make it easier and quicker.

After resting more in the morning, we all just kind of waited for something more to happen. Steve and Judy worked from the house, Chris did school and played with the boys and I planned out the week of lessons for their homeschooling. The contractions would come and go...very inconsistent...very irregular.

Since the afternoon was warm, Chris and I decided to walk around the development. I've always read that walking helps, so off we went. While we walked, the contractions moved closer together. However, I could still walk and talk through them, so I figured they weren't doing much. Ugh. This was going to be a long day and night and I would still have to be induced in the end!

I was trying to measure the contraction pain to the ones I had with Luke. I was admitted at 4 cm with him and those contractions were awful! I knew the hospital here would not admit me until I was 5cm or my water had broken (which it hadn't) so I wasn't even considering going in for contractions I knew weren't progressing me very far.

We had a supper of pancakes and afterwards I decided to lay down for awhile longer to rest. Finally the contractions started to get really painful and low and behold, were becoming consistent! I still wasn't convinced I was in active labor yet, but it did feel more intense than before. I figured it was time to go get checked, but was fully expecting to be sent back home. I knew I'd be back for the induction the next day, so no harm done getting checked!

Once we got in the car, Judy started timing my contractions and we realized they were coming every two minutes. I could no longer talk through them and had to breath the best I could. Maybe something really was happening...I wanted to be checked though...I didn't want to get my hopes up and then be told I was only at a 2 or 3cm.

We got to the hospital and the contractions persisted. I had to stop every two minutes and lean on something while Chris rubbed my back. I got to L&D and found out I was at a 5-6cm! Whooohoooo!!!!! This REALLY WAS happening!!! I was admitted around 8pm. Judy called my good friend Jenny who was going to be my doula and help coach me through labor and she left for the hospital right away. I figured I had hours to labor and the pain was getting really intense. They asked about pain management and I said I'd like to think about it. The nurse told me that they wouldn't give me an epidural after 8cm, so if I wanted one, tell them now. After a few really strong, really painful contractions, I decided maybe I didn't want to go with a non-medicated birth after all...the epidural sounded really good at this point. So I said I wanted one. However, no one seemed in a hurry to get me one...all my blood work sat on the table in front of me (I knew they had to run that before anesthesia came) and they were already setting up for delivery. Could I really be going this fast?!

The contractions were coming hard and fast. The best way for me to deal with them was to moan through them while Chris rubbed my back with one hand and I squeezed the life out of his other hand. I thought the pain would never end. I asked for ice chips as I was parched. I'd munch on those between contractions. Then I started to feel pressure. OH.MY.WORD!!! I knew this was it...the baby was coming fast...no time for an epidural...we're just going to have to do this! At this point I was in a timeless fog. I vaguely realized the doctor had finally arrived. He broke my water and it was go time. Pushing was insane. There are no words to describe it. A lot of people describe it as intense, but even that word pales in comparison to what it felt like. Though I only pushed for a few minutes, it felt like an eternity. I even remember yelling, "GET HIM OUT!!"

And then it was over. I have never been more relieved in my life!! They held Owen up and there he was - our baby!! He was a little purple, but still perfect in every way. He was delivered a mere 51 minutes after we were admitted. It was so quick I just couldn't believe it! We all commented afterwards that it was a good thing we decided to go to the hospital to get checked when we did...otherwise, we may have had an unexpected homebirth...or side of the highway birth!

After he was born, Chris and I finally decided on a name - Owen Michael. He weighed in at 7lbs 13oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. His apgar was 8/9. He was so alert! Although I know they can't see well at first, it just seemed like he was looking around at everyone and everything taking it all in.

With the painful labor behind me, I was ready to scoop up Owen and go home. I knew we couldn't go home that night, but I wanted to go home as soon as possible. I felt great!

-Happy in Daddy's arms-

-He's finally here!!-

-Proud Meme! Grandchildren are the best!-

-Proud Auntie Jenny excited to be Owen's first visitor! Even though she rushed to the hospital the second we called her, Owen came so quickly he arrived before she could get there.-

The following morning, Guka brought the boys to meet their new little brother. It was the sweetest thing to witness. We have been talking about a new little baby for months and finally he had arrived! As they looked at him they kept saying how cute he was and how much they love him.

They finally relented and let us go home early after 25 hours in the hospital. So, at around 11pm that evening, we were dressing Owen for his trip home. It was so good to be home!

Recovery has been amazing - by far the easiest recovery I've ever had. Owen has been great! He eats well, sleeps well and is such a mellow baby. We are all smitten by him!

Thankfully, Steve and Judy stayed with us for the rest of the week which allowed me to get a ton of rest. It was so nice having so much help! This week we have been so blessed to have meals brought to us by so many loving friends! It has been so helpful and it has allowed us to adjust in such a smooth way.

The boys are doing great with Owen. I wondered if there would be jealousy, but so far they are doing pretty good. I think they were so used to me being out of commission throughout the last 9 months, that they're just happy I'm up and moving around more...and I'm not as grumpy! =)

The nausea was gone instantly and about the only thing (short of the extra pounds) that has stuck around from my long list of pregnancy woes is some carpel tunnel in my wrists. I'm assuming that will go away in due time as well. I am amazed at how much more energy I have and I just feel good!

Though Owen has only been here a week, we can't imagine life without him. He is precious beyond words. I cannot even begin to express how blessed I feel. As I sat on the couch yesterday holding Owen, with Luke and Will sitting next to me, I was overcome with joy. I am so thankful to God for sending us these precious souls.

Here are some more pictures of our first week!

-Owen's first doctor's appointment-

-Family of 5!-

Life is good!