So it's been two weeks since our son was born, and I figured that was long enough to wait to decide to write the official story. On Tuesday October 21st, we arrived at LDS Hospital for the scheduled induction around 7:45 a.m. After getting checked in and settled, Patrice got examined and the nurse determined that she was dilated to a four. I'm thinking "Sweet!" at this point because with her dilated this much already, we might have a baby by late afternoon. The IV was hooked up to start her contractions at about 9:00 a.m. and the labor officially begins. Contractions happening every two to four minutes all the way until delivery. She did really well without any pain medications until about 11:30 a.m., when the pain became a little to tough to deal with. The epidural was administered, followed by the doctor breaking her water about 20 minutes after that.
Then we played the waiting game. We tried to watch season four of The Office, but the DVD player in the room started giving us problems. We tried to nap and relax, but then the contractions would hit, and I think we received either a text message or a phone call every five to ten minutes as well from family and friends interested in how the labor was going, so the phones were constantly going off.
At about midnight, Patrice was fully dilated. FINALLY! It seemed to take longer than normal because so many people we knew had short labor and delivery, but this was about average for a first-time mother. Then the pushing began. Beginning about 1:00 a.m. on the 22nd, the nurse and I would hold Patrice's legs in the air while she pushed three or four times during each contraction. I tried to be a good coach and keep eye contact and breathe in and out with her, but I'm not sure it helped that much. The nurse would keep track of how long she pushed each time, and that continued until just after 2:30 a.m. Keep in mind that Patrice has only had maybe 30 minutes of sleep since 6:00 a.m. the 21st, and has just pushed as much and as hard as she could and the baby hasn't even shown his head yet. She is so exhausted, that she asks if the baby vacuum (which is SO not what I thought it would be) can be used to help him come out.
At this point, the doctor comes in (after delivering three other babies just prior, including a C-section) and asks Patrice to push just a little more before she uses it. So until three o'clock she pushes more. Then they removed the bottom half of the bed (how the heck is that possible!?) and got all of the equipment ready to pull him out. So a few more pushes and a vacuum assist later and at 3:08 a.m. I watched my son be born.
This is where I try to describe that feeling that I think only someone who has seen it can truly understand. I can only say that there truly is a God and He created us. The plan of salvation is real, and having children is an integral part. I was emotional as I saw Harrison being born, but I don't think I really cried. Maybe just a tear or two trickling every few minutes for the first half hour. Incredible. Just incredible. I can't believe that I helped create this little guy, and that he was my son. These are words that I will revere from this point on: my son.
Then we played the waiting game. We tried to watch season four of The Office, but the DVD player in the room started giving us problems. We tried to nap and relax, but then the contractions would hit, and I think we received either a text message or a phone call every five to ten minutes as well from family and friends interested in how the labor was going, so the phones were constantly going off.
At about midnight, Patrice was fully dilated. FINALLY! It seemed to take longer than normal because so many people we knew had short labor and delivery, but this was about average for a first-time mother. Then the pushing began. Beginning about 1:00 a.m. on the 22nd, the nurse and I would hold Patrice's legs in the air while she pushed three or four times during each contraction. I tried to be a good coach and keep eye contact and breathe in and out with her, but I'm not sure it helped that much. The nurse would keep track of how long she pushed each time, and that continued until just after 2:30 a.m. Keep in mind that Patrice has only had maybe 30 minutes of sleep since 6:00 a.m. the 21st, and has just pushed as much and as hard as she could and the baby hasn't even shown his head yet. She is so exhausted, that she asks if the baby vacuum (which is SO not what I thought it would be) can be used to help him come out.
At this point, the doctor comes in (after delivering three other babies just prior, including a C-section) and asks Patrice to push just a little more before she uses it. So until three o'clock she pushes more. Then they removed the bottom half of the bed (how the heck is that possible!?) and got all of the equipment ready to pull him out. So a few more pushes and a vacuum assist later and at 3:08 a.m. I watched my son be born.
This is where I try to describe that feeling that I think only someone who has seen it can truly understand. I can only say that there truly is a God and He created us. The plan of salvation is real, and having children is an integral part. I was emotional as I saw Harrison being born, but I don't think I really cried. Maybe just a tear or two trickling every few minutes for the first half hour. Incredible. Just incredible. I can't believe that I helped create this little guy, and that he was my son. These are words that I will revere from this point on: my son.
2 comments:
From the mother's side, I completely understand about the words "my son". I too can testify that there is a God in Heaven... all because of the miracle of birth! We are excited for you guys!
I love that!!Britton our oldest got the salad forks so the vaccum is way better. I am so looking forward to seeing that cutie in person. The baby not you Dan!!
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