Simon's Birth (part II)

**disclaimer: if you don't like to read birth stories, check back tomorrow, if you do, read on!**

A year ago today I woke up before Tim’s alarm with contractions, and I thought, great, here we go again. I timed them-roughly 10 minutes apart, so I got a little excited. And then, the bag of waters broke, and joy of all joys I thought, “I’m having this baby today!!”

Tim’s alarm went off and I told him he wasn’t going in today, we were having the baby! We timed them some more, got things ready, and called the midwife on-call. She said to head on in to the hospital, there were nurses there for us. We woke up my sister to tell her we were heading to the hospital and she could come when she was ready. We woke up Tim’s dad to let him know he was in charge of the boys—Noah to daycare and Eli to stay with them since Eli had scarlet fever and was still contagious. Then they would pick up Noah at the end of the day and keep the boys overnight.

We got to the hospital about 6:30 a.m. and got settled into the same room that I delivered both Eli and Noah in. The midwife on-call had switched so the other midwife, Margie, came about 8 to see how I was doing-dilated to three. She was a lot of fun, talking about all sorts of things to make us laugh. Of course, by this time my contractions had stopped again, so Margie suggested walking, and same as the day before if I walked, the contractions came, when I stopped, they stopped. So, I walked. And walked. Then they started to get harder so I meandered back to the birthing center.

My sister came and hung out with us, but labor was moving slow and she had class, so she decided to go to class and come back right after. At the rate we were moving, I didn’t think there was any worry of her missing the birth.

They wouldn’t let me in the tub yet for fear it would slow things down, so I kept walking. Tim decided to take a nap while we were waiting, and I sat down in the rocker to rest and then wham! Contractions started coming fast and strong (12:05 p.m.). The nurse came in to check my vitals and I said, I want in the tub, NOW.

She started the water and the midwife checked my progress, now at seven, I was good to go for the tub. So in I went, and Tim sat behind me to help support me since the tub is so big. It was about 12:30 and both of the midwives were there, and I was laboring fine in the tub, it brought so much relief. Then a little after 1, I started to chicken out and I wanted to cry; I just wanted it to be over, I was in so much pain and felt sick (when will I learn that’s transition?). The midwife, Lisa, came in about 15 or 20 after and asked if I wanted to have a water birth. I couldn’t really know what I wanted and she checked and said, “Well you need to decide right now, because it’s time to push.” I quickly said, “I want out!”

Getting out of the tub at that stage of the game is tricky, I was all shaky and wet and cold immediately, not to mention 10 cm dilated and about to give birth. We got me dried off and put a gown on and one of those warm blankets around me. Then I started for the bed, with Tim helping. I made it there in time for another contraction so I just leaned on the bed and waited. Tim went across the bed from me and held my hands for support and was ready to help me into bed. I was still leaning there when the next one came, and I said, “The baby’s coming now, I’m pushing!”

I laugh to think of it now, but the midwife said, “Not yet!” She was across the room and wasn’t prepared for me to push, but push I did; during those contractions that’s all that will bring relief. So the nurse and Lisa scrambled to move their stuff over to the side of the bed where I was and proceeded to guide me through pushing while leaning on the bed. The nurse was great; as I was starting to tremble from standing/squatting while pushing. She got her knee behind one of my knees and pushed mine against the bed to steady me and then let me rest some of my weight on her leg a little, which made me stop shaking. Once they got over to help me, I pushed through two contractions and he was born!

They must have needed an extra hand at that point because Lisa said, “Reach down and take him.” I told her I couldn’t, I was afraid I would drop him. He was all slippery and I was going into shock and starting to shake again, so she told Tim to get him. He’s still laying across the bed, still holding my hands, and I can see that he isn’t sure how he would reach him easily, and at that moment the nurse scoops him up with a warm blanket. They help me get up onto the bed and give me the baby.

Baby Simon. My little dark haired baby. He seemed so little and red and perfect. Tim and I both admired him. God is amazing—he has these wonderful tiny, perfect creations. He nursed like a champ and the relief that it was over, he was healthy, and nursing was going well, made me so utterly thankful.

About that time there’s a knock at the door, it’s my sister. She had heard a baby cry, and thought, “Surely that’s not our baby?” Indeed it was, she had just missed his birth. We laugh now that she was driving around the parking garage looking for a space when he was born.

Tim and I still hadn’t decided on a middle name, we both had one we liked. I primarily decided all the boys names (with Tim’s approval), so since he had a strong preference this time around, we went with the one he wanted, and I like it too, so Simon Scott it is.

Since my sister was there with me and we were doing okay, Tim left and went to do some work (boy, I’m glad he sold the business!) and made lots of calls with the news. Then Simon was weighed and measured: 7 pounds 8.6 ounces, such a little guy, and 21 ½ inches, at 1:43 p.m. My sister called Tim to tell him the stats. Tim immediately asked her if I was okay—meaning I have this thing about wanting to have babies over 8 pounds, so I know they are healthy and strong and that I did my very best at giving them the best start I can. But I did give Simon the best start I possibly could, and God was helping me out with not having a big baby to deliver, so I was happy.

I can hardly believe it's been a year already! Happy First Birthday Simon!