Ethan's Birth Story

Here goes attempt #2 of Ethan's delivery and birth story. The first one I wrote out over a 2.5hr nap one afternoon and as I was proof reading, and maybe had one sentence left to write, the computer froze and deleted all my work. Major bummer. I am likely going to be a little less thorough this time around, so I am not up all night typing, but we all know I am not exactly one of "few words" so we will see how that goes. As always, this will come with all the details so if you don't want to know, just don't read any further!

In starting, you have to know a little about how I feel regarding induction and natural childbirth so you can truly understand how I was feeling. I am not in favor of induction in general and think it is widely overused for the convenience and benefit of the Mom and or doctor. I do however believe there are appropriate times for its use as in previous C-sections obviously don't want to go too long, or Moms a week past their due date, or other complications know regarding Mom or baby. That being said, when I was told at 38 weeks that my baby was roughly 8lbs, I can't exactly express my anxiety and reservations upon making it to my due date (Sept 12th) and him not having chosen to arrive yet. At my 40 week visit I was 3 cm dilated and 60% effaced. My Dr told me that while I didn't have to pick an induction date, he didn't feel very comfortable allowing me to go more than a week past my due date (so 9-19, our nephew's bday). So, I was asked to pick a date and honestly was praying he would just opt to come on his own before that. So, with some hesitation, I picked September 14th fully believing that Ethan would show up before then on his own and knowing that I simply could not bear going through another weekend wondering "is this the day/night?". I had feelings of relief that there was an end in sight, but also guilt that I was not being patient waiting on the Lord's timing and blessings for us, but yet praying all the while that I would go into labor on my own before I had to check in. Mike and I both prayed A LOT that last week and especially the last 24hrs.

Well, after trying every "trick in the book" to jump start labor the last 48 hrs before induction, it was quite surreal to drive up to Methodist Mansfield Medical Center and unload the car with our belongings at 6am and not be in any pain. (Quite a different experience from last time) We actually ran into our pediatrician, Dr Wallace waiting on the elevators to go up to the 2nd floor. We were in a room and being checked in within just a few minutes of arrival. I was assigned to room 8 in labor and delivery and my nurse came in about 6:45am and her name was Theresa. She was very nice and energetic and just who I needed to start the day. She got me hooked up to the wireless monitors since I planned to walk around and be up during labor and not just flat on my back. I was not found however, of her IV skills. That was the sole thing that gave me pain from about 7:30am until around 4:30/5pm when contractions were really serious. Even the week after delivery my wrist hurt so bad around the bone where the IV had been.

Dr. Daum came in right at 8am and had agreed to go ahead and break my water and then wait on my body to let labor start on its own. Unfortunately, time would tell that it took a little longer that I had anticipated. When I checked in I was 4cm and 60% effaced and -2 station and I remember him noting that I was having some regular contractions already, but I told him this had been the state of things for the past week plus, so my body just likes to slowly ease in for awhile before hard labor I suppose. Anyways, after he broke my water he went back to the office (in the medical building adjoining the hospital) to see his patients. I stayed sitting up in bed for probably a half hour to allow for some major gushing (seriously crazy stuff). Then Mike and I started walking the halls. We walked, we used the birthing ball, I squatted, etc but we were off to a slow start with things. Mom, Dad, Nanny, Poppy, Lauren, Naomi, and Ryan came up to the hospital around 10:00am just to check on me and in case things would happen quickly, but we sent them home around lunchtime to eat and let the kiddos nap. At around 12:30 I believe (it's been 2 months now people so my brain is fuzzy), Dr. Daum came in and I was only 5 cm and still about 60% effaced, but luckily a 0 station so baby was moving down which was the goal my nurse had given me. I was a little down that there had not been more change in dilation, but the nurse explained that we needed the baby's head to move down and press on the cervix to really effect the dilation. So, it was slow but steady progress. Back to walking and various positions we went... Somewhere around 4-4:30pm contractions really started picking up in intensity where I was actually noticing a difference and occasionally having to stop speaking to concentrate on them. Mom and Nanny came by at some point around then and I remember telling Mom they were significant, but didn't seem hard enough just yet. By 5:30pm Dr. Daum came back to check on me and reported that I was still only 5 cm (which honestly shocked him and ME!), my cervix was luckily almost completely effaced I think he had said about 90%, but it was not the news I wanted to hear. He reassured me that he lived close by and could be back to the hospital in minutes and headed home. He encouraged me that even though I was feeling the pain of the contractions that the most important thing for me to do right then was to find the positions that caused me to have the most contractions. (Let me tell you that is easier said than done.) It is quite challenging mentally to tell yourself to move in a way that causes you the most pain basically speaking. So, I got up again with the intention of walking around, but with a stop to pee first. It was truly the longest walk to the bathroom ever as it caused 3 contractions just on the way to the bathroom and by the time I had finished and was headed back I was feeling nauseous and was sick once. I stayed upright for the next half hour and it was around that time that I remember thinking there was no way that I could keep going medicine free and really started second guessing my decision. With those thoughts that I couldn't do it anymore, 7pm brought a nurse change of shift. We then met Laura, who I have to say was an amazing nurse and just what I needed for that last hour. She was reassuring and confident and she and Mike helped me get on my hands and knees and she showed him a way to press on my hips which was really very helpful to handle the pain I was feeling. By 7:30-7:40 I was starting to feel pressure and notified Laura who checked and found that I was completely dilated. What a relief!! She called in the team to set up the room for delivery and they paged Dr. Daum. It all happened so fast and I'm pretty sure the Dr was in my room by 7:45pm. I remember looking at the clock in front of me and thinking oh my goodness this baby could be here by 8pm!
Mike and Laura were taking turns fanning me with a clipboard, Mike was giving me ice chips after every contraction and I think I was breathing as deeply as I could to try to relax. I have to pause and say, I can't speak highly enough of my delivery team including my husband. They were truly awesome and I know I never could have done it without them. So about 5 minutes until 8pm Dr. Daum told me that whenever I felt the urge that I could push with the next contraction. After the first contraction I remember Dr Daum encouraging me that he could see the head and that "It didn't look like he had much hair". About two contractions and pushes later Ethan's head emerged and the Dr suctioned the nose and mouth and one last push and he was here! He arrived at 8:13pm and after only 3-4pushes. (Such an improvement over the 2 hrs of pushing with my first labor).

My first thoughts when Ethan arrived were that of relief that he was finally in my arms and I thought he was so handsome and didn't look like Ryan to me as I had anticipated him to. (later looking at pictures I changed my mind, they resemble one another very closely) I also thought that he seemed slimy and had more vernix than I remember Ryan having at birth. They laid him right on my chest and Ethan cried right away and spread his arms out the way he does now when he is startled or seems to think he is falling. I talked to him and kissed him and it was just a wonderful few moments. Dr Daum let Mike cut the umbilical cord after the blood had pulsed out and it seemed much skinnier than Ryan's cord as well. The nurse took him away to measure him and do her charting, but I could see him across the room while Dr. Daum delivered the afterbirth and thankfully I had no tears this time, so no stitches! Hooray! This truly made a world of difference with my recovery which was such night and day difference from the first time. The nurse also changed out my gown and ordered food in for me since I hadn't eaten since dinner the night before (and I was starving!). Then Ethan's nurse brought him back to me about about 5-10 minutes later and he nursed for the first time for maybe 15 minutes and really seemed to latch fairly easily. He didn't nurse for long and we decided to allow family back to see him before it got too late for Ryan to be up. He got to meet his brother around 9pm and was the proudest big brother I think there ever was. He was so excited to hold him and touch him all over and it was so wonderful to see them together. I think I will always remember that moment. I almost cried it was so cute.

It really was a wonderful labor and God was showing us his blessings in every way even though we in some ways took "initiative" for the birth on our own. I am thankful that both of us stayed healthy and had no complications and even more grateful for the quick recovery time afterwards. I would highly recommend Dr. Daum to anyone in the Mansfield area looking for an OB/GYN. I could not have asked for a better experience than I had with him. He is truly a caring and knowledgeable physician who was always listening to my wishes and made it a great experience. I also had great nurses and staff at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center and even the food was great! So that about sums it up. We are so thankful that Ethan is here!