A Birth Story for Simon's Birthday

Simon turns ONE today.  It's been a day of emotions for me, and fun so far for him.  I can't believe how big he is, and how much he is learning every day.  He can do so much now, and I know the next several months is going to be so full of learning and growing.  It's going to be fun!! 

Oh and he's walking now!  Love, love, love it!

I thought since I never really posted his birth story here, that I would go ahead and do so today.  It's really a great story and I love it all so much.  I'll spare every little detail, because with pictures it would last forever.  But here's the highlights with some picture of the day he was born.

I woke up at 2:30 on Wednesday morning as I had pretty much every morning for the past month.  Usually I would go downstairs, watch a little tv and fall back asleep on the couch.  Knowing, however, that Simon would be here today, I couldn't fall back asleep.  At about 4:30 I gave up and took a shower.  At 5:15am I woke up Willy and the boys and we got ready to head for the hospital for our schedule C-section.

Taken in front of Labor and Delivery

 

Once we were admitted, the nurse introduced the nursing student that would be with us also. She seemed surprised when I told her that if I was contracting regularly and there was a change in my cervix from Friday, that Dr L would break my water and we would try for a VBAC.  But she was game. 

At 8:00 or so, Dr L came in and said I was dilated to a 2, and that we could try for the VBAC.  She said that they'd admit me to Labor and Delivery and she would be back down to break my water.  I was ecstatic!!!  I really was hoping for a VBAC.  But my prayers for most the pregnancy had been that if a c-section was safer, that we would know for sure, without a doubt.  So we packed up my stuff and headed to the other section of Labor and Delivery.

Happy face for no c-section

 

Dr L came in about 10:00 to break my water.  I was feeling no contractions, although they were about 3 minutes apart or so.  She told me before leaving it usually take an hour for labor to really begin.  It was 15 minutes later when the first strong and true contraction hit.  And like my other labors, they were all in my back.  By 11:30 I was on the labor ball with Willy applying counter pressure in the small of my back.  I was 4 cm dilated and the nurse put me on the epidural list.  About 12:30, the anesthesiologist came in with some students and I was soon much more comfortable.

Texting with Rhonda.  She was in labor in CO also.

 

The boys visited about every hour or so.

 

 

 

 

 

At this point it was all about getting some rest while I could.  They checked me every hour or so to make sure I was progressing some.  Since I couldn't have Pitocin with the VBAC, they had to keep a close eye on him.  From 12:30-3:30 I had gone from a 4-5.  I was still laboring well, and contraction were still regular, I just wasn't progressing.  Dr L came down to check on me before a C-section.  She told me that if things didn't progress more in the next hour that we would try some other methods to see if thing would pick up.  I continued to pray for his safe arrival.  C-section or VBAC I didn't care, I just wanted him here safely.

Ethan watching the monitors.

At 4:15 they checked me again and I was dilated to a 7!  I was so excited for some progress.

At 4:45 I was checked again and was 8cm dilated!  Not 5 minutes late I began to feel the pain above my hip that always indicates that I am ready to push.  The nurse only checked me again because Simon's labor was my third labor.

And this was taken at 4:53

Dr L and I.  After 5 babies, she was finally able to deliver one.  She has ALWAYS been out of town when the other boys were delivered.

Everything moved pretty fast once they noticed Simon was coming.  It was a blur of movement to hurry up and set up before he was here.  I remember the nurse telling me not to laugh, because his head was right there.  They brought the mirror in and oh my, he truly was.  Dr L came in, put her gloves on.  I pushed once and out he came.  I remember knowing that I would breathe once I heard him cry.  I didn't have a chance to listen because he came out and his cord was wrapped around his neck.  Dr L told Willy she had to cut the cord, as she was doing it and I was just holding onto the fact that he's here.  He finally cried for us and I took the easiest breath I had since I found out I was pregnant with him.

And at 5:07 Simon Parker William was born.

 

One of my all time favorites!

 

 

 

I want to say that I was afraid that fear for Simon would fill the day.  I was afraid that grief would overshadow the joy.  But I was able to tuck away the fear and grief and embrace every single moment.  Lucas and Caleb were there with us, but I didn't feel emotional tugs, or experience flashbacks as I thought I would.  I am grateful for that.