Caleb's Birth Story (part 1)

Ok how do I begin this story, his birth story, the story that I will tell him every year on his birthday until he is so sick of it, he will yell out Mom in disgust and amusement as I begin to tell it.

His due date was January 29, which is also the birthday of my Aunt Connie, my mom's oldest sister. Throughout the month of January, progress had been made down there. At my 36 week appointment, I was 1 cm dilated 75% effaced. At my 37 week appointment, I was 1 cm 90% effaced. At my 38 week appointment, I was 2cm 90% effaced and I had my membranes stripped. All this progress plus the stripping had me encouraged that he would make an early arrival. On January 24 at 7pm, I had to start timing contractions. They came on suddenly and were consistent for an hour, consistent enough that we headed to the hospital as my doctor mentioned we needed to do. We spent the night in the hospital but no progression was made in my dilatation and the contractions subsided. The charge nurse as we left said don't worry you will be back by the end of the weekend. The weekend came and went with no more contractions.

Then at my 39 week 6 day appointment, the day before my official due date, I had my membranes stripped again as I was 3 cm dilated. Hoping that labor would start within 24 hours, my doctor said that if it didn't then I was suppose to back on January 30 for him to break my water then we would head to the hospital from there. I was excited to consider that option but Sean had some reservations. We discussed it and ultimately agreed to not go to the doctor's office but give it until Monday, February 3 if he didn't make his appearance by then. Thursday nothing. Friday nothing. Saturday nothing. Sunday all day nothing. Finally we climbed into bed Sunday night agreeing to call the doctor the next morning to say we wanted to know our other options.

Upon climbing into bed, I prayed, prayed that God would intervene before the doctor could and trusted that God would bring Caleb into this world in His timing, not the doctor's. Literally as I was praying this, I felt a big pop down there and immediately a gush of water. My water had broken! I leaped out of bed, told Sean my water broke and he looked at me and said what do we do now? I said we go to the hospital! Just to make sure, he called the hospital and they said yes come on in. So my water broke at 10:50pm. Within 20 minutes of my water breaking, the contractions started. Not consistent contractions but definitely stronger than ones I felt before. We had a 40 minute drive to the hospital. All the way to the hospital, I kept telling Sean how weird it was to experience my water breaking and at the same time I felt like one of the lucky ones because only a small percentage of women have their water broken prior to arriving at the hospital. We arrived at the hospital at midnight and was told I was the only patient. The charge nurse who saw us the Friday before was there and I said we are back only a bit later than when you guessed. She said I kept wondering when you were going to come back. We settled into the room, and I was checked in at being 4 cm dilated, I got the IV and tried to rest. I won't say sleep because contractions were strong enough that sleep wouldn't be an option. But sleep was all I could think about honestly.

During my pregnancy, I was undecided if I would get an epidural. As the pain of the contractions were increasing, I asked for a small pain reliever through my IV to try and rest. It helped for 5 minutes and finally with it being 3:30am and having to wake the on-call anthesiologist I was told it would be at least 30 minutes whenever I did decide I wanted an epidural. I finally told Sean I wanted the epidural and he kept asking me are you sure, are you sure? I said yes and I don't regret it. I was checked on my progress before getting the epidural which at this point was 6-7 cm. Once the epidural kicked in, sleep was allowed and it was wonderful. The next thing I knew the nurse came into my room at 6:30am to check my progression and she said I was 10cm and that pushing would commence shortly!
(come back tomorrow for the rest of his story and in the meantime I'll leave you with this photo to entice you to come back)


p.s. happy 1 week birthday Caleb!

21 comments:

P!nky said...

Welcome lil one! Congrats!

Ashley @ ladyacray.blogspot.com said...

He's beautiful! Congratulations and happy 1-week birthday, handsome.

Brittany Fry @ The 26th of August said...

Doesn't God work in wonderful ways!!! Happy 1 week to Caleb
He is so precious!!!

whit | Black Little Button blog said...

he is the cutest!! :)
-whit

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! He is beautiful!

Hilary said...

These stories mean so much more now that I'm staring down the barrel of L&D!!! I'm glad you have a positive outlook towards having an epidural. I'm not opposed to it, which I've been told means I'll definitely get one. Can't wait to read part 2!

Carly said...

Aw he's just adorable!!!!!

Carly
www.lipglossandcrayons.com

Courtney Kassner said...

Such an amazing birth story already! God has a sense of humor in allowing your water to break just as you were praying for it!

Sarah said...

Oh my gosh, cute, cute, cute! Congrats! Can't wait to hear the rest of the story!

Erica Jacquline said...

He is adorable! I a glad it all went smoothly friend!

Lauren said...

he's so beautiful! And God is such an amazing God! You are one of the lucky ones...my water didn't break, I just started having strong contractions which made the whole labor/delivery process much more interesting!

Discovery Street said...

I love how God answered prayer immediately...so wonderful. can't wait to read the rest!

Heather said...

Congratulations! Your little boy is adorable!

Pamela said...

ADORABLE! Congrats :)

Simply LKJ said...

He is adorable! Hard to believe it has been a week already.

Catalina Aldridge said...

I was wondering if you got an epidural... LOVE hearing your story! :)

Ashley @ Life with Kids said...

What a cutie pie!

You can find me blogging about "Life on the Parsons Farm" : atparsons.blogspot.com

Lauren {at} Life.Love.Lauren said...

So cute!!

Unknown said...

I love this story so far! So exciting, he is so perfect.

Anonymous said...

What a little sweetheart!! I'm so happy for you and your fam. Love the story! xo

Michelle said...

How crazy your water broke AS you were praying for it! Glad you had a safe delivery, what a cutie pie. :)