Thursday, June 27, 2013

Liam's Birth Story

Finding out...

We found out I was pregnant after I had taken Finn to the park and could barely climb a small hill with him in my arms!  I was so out of breath! I knew then that I was probably pregnant because I had similar symptoms with Finn.  I went home, took a pregnancy test and told Clint after he woke from a nap.  We told our parents very quickly after that.  We told friends and extended family a few weeks later.


14 weeks



Pregnancy....
My pregnancy was very similar to Finn's.  Some mild nausea and tiredness in the beginning.  By second trimester I was feeling good.  Liam sat really low so I felt a lot of pressure early on.  I also felt him kick earlier.  I believe I first felt him around 15 weeks.  I swore to exercise with this pregnancy so around 30 weeks I started walking almost daily.  That was when my energy picked up and I had enough help with Finn to not be completely exhausted by the end of the day!  I tried to eat healthy throughout my pregnancy but that was difficult since I was always hungry! 



20 weeks

 Almost there...
Around 37 weeks I started getting really anxious to meet Liam.  I just knew it would be any day.  I was wrong and it was a good lesson in patience and waiting for baby to decide.  I walked every night and could usually get some good contractions going but they would go away as soon as we got home.  At 39 weeks, a Monday, my doctor stripped my membranes and said I was at 3 cm dilated.  I was contracting pretty often but nothing serious.  On Wednesday, I was at the museum with Finn and started getting consistent, strong contractions.  I just knew it was time!  Wrong!  We went to the hospital only to find out it was false labor.  I was about 5 cm dilated (5!!!) but no labor.  My doctor is extremely patient and I was okay with that.  We agreed that as long as baby and I were fine, we would let nature decide.  Boy was it hard walking out of that hospital!

24 weeks

 And it begins...
The very next day I started contracting around 3:30 pm.  I was pretty much emotionally and physically drained.  I was so upset labor hadn't began.  Patience and giving up control were getting the best of me.  I was contracting inconsistently but they were all within 10 minutes of each other and were very slowly getting stronger.  Clint got home around 5:30 and I cried as I told him about the contractions and how I just couldn't handle it if these contractions went away too.  I was so unsure of myself and worried that it could still be days before Liam came.  We decided to go to the hospital anyway.  At 8, after mom got there to watch Finn, we went to the hospital.  Contractions had definitely picked up but were still not too bad.  After arriving, going to triage (still at 5/6 cm) and walking the hospital halls for an hour, contractions had progressed and were about 3 minutes apart. Woohoo!   We headed to our room.  I got in the shower immediately.  Contractions and water just go together! I also rocked in a rocking chair which felt good too.



28 weeks

 It's Getting Serious...

After about an hour in the shower and breathing through almost every contraction, the doctor checked and I was still 6 cm!!  I realized labor may be pretty long.  I decided on an epidural.  I was very open minded going into labor this time and was hoping for no drugs but after a few hours and staying at 5/6 cm dilated, I realized I would rather get the drugs and rest so that I would have more energy the next day.  I also hadn't mentally prepared myself for the task and was looking for a way out!  I got the epidural and my doctor came in and broke my water.  This happened around 12:30.  



32 weeks

 Just Look Into His Eyes..After my doctor broke my water, it took 3 contractions for complete dilation and baby to descend .  In case you don't know what that means on a pain scale, it means...Ouch!  The epidural hadn't fully kicked in so I had been feeling contractions.  The only thing to center me, was Clint.  He is my rock.  I was making all kinds of noises but if I could just look into Clint's eyes, I knew I would be okay.  It was over quickly and as they say, I really don't remember the pain at all.  What I do remember is pushing, touching Liam's hair before he came out, laughing and talking about his hair color and feeling a lot of determination and power that I could push him out.  The whole room was very peaceful.  No loud nurses and my doctor was extremely calm, which I loved.  We were laughing, talking and just enjoying those sweet moments before a new life is brought into the world.  It's not pretty.... but it's beautiful.


37 weeks


Totally Worth It....
Liam was born at 1:40 AM on April 26, 2013.  He was beautiful.  They put him on my chest and Clint and I fell in love all over again.   Liam was screaming so I nuzzled him into my chest, shhhh'ed him and talked to him.  He quieted down and looked around a bit.  They took him to the incubator and then brought him back to me.  We did skin to skin and attempted a little breastfeeding.  He was totally not interested so we just did skin to skin. 







We love you Liam Elliott McHenry!



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