Will's Birth Story

Alright, first the disclaimer--this is a birth story, men, you might not want to read this. It will include some details that you might not want to read--because it's a detailed account of childbirth. Just click away if you're not interested, I completely understand! Also, I got interrupted a million times while trying to write this, so forgive me if it's disjointed! Now, before I tell Will's story, if you haven't read Jon's story or Sam's story, you won't fully understand how different this little guy's entry into the world was for us. Night and day, but thankfully with the same ending--a healthy baby and mama. Now, back to Will. The Thursday before Will's due date, which was November 20/21,I had my weekly check up with my doctor. Normally, they wouldn't schedule an induction quite yet, but because his brothers were so big (9lbs, 4oz and 10lbs, 5oz) and born 5 days early, the doctor didn't want me to go much past my due date--we didn't want a baby too big for me to deliver. I really didn't want to be induced, but I also really didn't want to have a C-section either. So we had to chose a date, which was tricky with Thanksgiving being last week. In the end, my doctor was the on-call doctor on Tuesday and that gave me a couple extra days for my body to hopefully go into labor on it's own. However, because she knew I was trying to go as naturally as possible, she suggested that I come in Monday night at 8pm to try cervidal (sp?), which is supposed to ripen/soften your cervix and can put your body into labor. Over the weekend, I had many hard contractions and kept thinking that we were going to be going in before Monday. But they were inconsistent and would never last more than an hour. Side note*I have to say, since both Jon and Sam were early, that last week was very draining. The emotional and mental uncertainty, "I'm sure today will be the day! maybe?" along with the physically exhausting days and nights--with several painful contractions each day--really wore me out.* So, as the weekend drew to a close, we realized the induction was probably what would bring our little guy out to meet us. That meant trying to make plans for our bigger kiddos for Monday night through Thursday (Thanksgiving day). Thankfully, my brother Scott came and stayed with them Monday night. Then friends from church--the Vines--kept the boys Tuesday afternoon and then my parents took over from there. With all that taken care of, Pete and I headed to the hospital Monday evening. We were both kind of weirded out by the process. In the past, I was having strong contractions that I couldn't even talk or walk through when we loaded up to go to the hospital. This time, I'm calm and helping carry stuff. Pete said it felt more like checking in to a hotel than going to have a baby. It was very bizarre for us. Once we got checked in the nurse took my vitals, started an IV, checked my progress and I was dilated to 3cm. I had only been 1cm at my appointment on Thursday, so we were encouraged by that news. However, she said, as my doctor had said, that my cervix still seemed thick and posterior. Next we had to wait for the cervidel to come. (apparently the orders had gotten lost) It didn't come until just before 10pm. Usually, if it's going to send you into labor it happens between 30 minutes and 2 hours of insertion. Needless to say, from 10pm until midnight we were anxious. In the end, they gave me some Ambien to help me get some sleep b/c it didn't appear to be doing much. By the morning, I had progressed to 4-5 cm, but still wasn't having very consistent contractions, so they started the petocin at 8am. They started with a small dose and upped it every 20-30 minutes. I definitely started having more contractions that were consistent and stronger. The doctor came and asked if I wanted an epidural--she gave me a little pep talk about how I could probably handle it without since I had Jon and Sam without one. However, I've heard from my mother in law, a retired OB nurse, and many others that if you have petocin, it's not natural for your body anymore and to just get the epidural, so...I chose the epidural. Enter the anesthesiologist. As she's finishing up she says to the anesthesiologist in training who is observing--she actually asked if she could do it and I said no--"That wasn't as deep as I would have expected." And then I proceed to have a couple contractions that weren't too difficult and say to my mom, Pete's mom and Pete, "I think my friends that say they couldn't deliver without an epidural are underestimating themselves, this isn't that different." At which point, my nurse says, "I'm going to get the anesthesiologist, because I don't think it's working." My original anesthesiologist brings with her the head anesthesiologist of Labor and Delivery, who proceeds to try again. She doesn't seem very confident that the second try has worked and asks me what I feel/don't feel and when I winced with a contraction and then said, "maybe it's starting to work," she said,"No. You shouldn't have to convince yourself." And then she was willing to either give me a spinal block once my water broke or to try one more time. Apparently, they suspected that have a "false block" and where they usually stop once they hit some point of resistance to avoid those epidural migraines, they needed to push through mine to get it to work. It was a little scary, but I was so tired and had expected it to be working, we decided to give it one more shot. That time as soon as she pushed through, I felt a tinge in my left leg and told her and everyone got excited--it was working! And it was nice. I have to say the next part was great--talking through contractions as I progressed from 5-9cm was really amazing. I even felt a little sleepy, but then I felt the pressure and knew it was about time to push. Right before the pushing began, everyone in the room was making guesses about what this boy would weigh. Most guessed between 9lbs and 10lbs 4oz--I think they were trying not to freak me out. I guessed 10lbs 9oz, but even said that I was being optimistic and expected him to be an 11 pounder. Thankfully, I was wrong, but I was the closest guess! One thing that disappointed me slightly about the epidural was that it still really hurt to push that kiddo out. I guess I was expecting it to be as painless--or maybe a only a little more painful than the contractions. Maybe if I had a higher dose? Anyway, I'm not sure how long I pushed, but Will was born at 2:17pm. One noteworthy thing about the pushing phase, I had to really push at his head, then again at his shoulders and then again for his body--with both the other boys once we got past the shoulders, they just kind of came out. This guy was so long, that didn't work! It was weird. So...that's the story. William James Gross, born November 23, 2010 at 2:17pm, 10 lbs, 7 oz and 23 inches long. Yes, you read that correctly, 23 inches long. The nurses were coming in to see him because many of them hadn't seen a baby that long before. He is a big boy for sure! But we're just thankful that he's healthy and out here with us now! :)