I had already started my journey as a childbirth educator and doula. I had read Ina May's "Spiritual Midwifery" and "The Birth Book" by William Sears. Although I had inadvertently given birth naturally with Kelsey, I was "armed" with much more knowledge and power this time. I "knew" what I wanted. I discussed my birth "plan" with my midwife team and prepared for a non-medicated, natural birth in our local hospital.
My water broke around 11pm with a gush. I remember shaking and trembling violently-- hormones, anxiety, adrenaline? It was a short time from when my water broke to birth with Kelsey so we called the hospital and rushed in. And then... waited....
By morning still no labor. The day shift checked my cervix-- 2-3 cm which was exactly what it had been previously at the office. Regretfully, I agreed that it didn't look like I was headed into labor and agreed to start a pitocin induction at 8:30am. I don't remember what rate they started it, but I started having frequent, long (2 minute) contractions immediately. The nurse commented "Whoa, we better pull that back!" Within 30 minutes, I was in labor.
I remember doing ok, getting a check at some point and being told I was 6cm and I was thinking "This isn't awful"... with Kelsey I had awful back labor, so this seemed manageable. But Nathan didn't love the pitocin and they needed to do an internal monitor. (Another intervention I wasn't super excited about, but agreed was needed.) It seemed like soon after that, things got really intense. It was overwhelming, I was rocking while sitting up in bed, chanting "Ow, Ow, Ow" while my sweet husband, who was fluent in Lamaze tried to correct me. "Hee Hee Hee Hoo". I then said they hurt like a Mother...F..... and I believe he turned to my mom and said "She's in transition". Whatever.
Then... I needed to push. I was on my side and yelled "He's coming, somebody catch him!" I was worried he'd come out so fast he'd shoot right off the bed. Luckily, the same midwife who caught Kelsey raced in, and calmly coached me thru the last few moments, with my foot on her shoulder. He shot out at 1pm.
He was a great nurser from moment one (unlike his sister) he was an easy baby (unlike his sister) and slept 5-6 hrs during the night within the first week or so (unlike his sister). Our sweet boy filled out quickly, from 6.5 lbs at birth to 10 lbs at a month. (My mom called him Tub O Lard). Our Michelan Man Baby. He laughed easily, loved his sister to pieces. He was a mommy's boy, no one try to give that kid a bottle!
As he grew, we've loved watching him become a sweet, tender, giving boy, he had an aptitude for Legos at an early age, building and creating. He has always loved school and done well-- kind to both teachers and fellow students. Even as he reached his teen years, his toughest moments have been when he's waited too long to eat and he gets grumpy from low blood sugar. Once we feed him, he's generally a pretty amiable guy. He has always been a lover of animals, and got "his" dog Shadow at 10 years old. They are the best of friends.
He got big-- muscles came from weight training, towering over Mom (which he thinks is hilarious) and grew hair-- he's got a beard! I've seen my baby boy grow into a man. But he's still one of the most kind, thoughtful, giving people I've met in my life, and I'm really proud to be his mom.
Happy 18th Birthday my sweet baby boy.
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