This post is for Julie and Rachel who asked about Isaac's entry into the world. I love birth stories and am happy to share Isaac's.
I mentioned in an early post how peaceful I felt at the end of this pregnancy. The ends of the other two pregnancies were anxiety filled for me. With all my pregnancies I have shown signs of early labor and progression starting right around 37 weeks. Knowing how far along I was set me up for some real disappointment when their dues dates came and went (Luke was five days past his and Noah was six). This pregnancy I just determined to enjoy the last little bit and accepted that he would come when he was going to come.
I went to the doctor on Wednesday and she told me that I was close. This was a week before my due date and so I didn't think much of it. I spent the next day having irregular contractions. I did this several times with the other boys and so I figured that they would stop. I still went for my walk in the morning, feed my boys lunch, and took Luke to school. I decided to nap while he was at school, just in case. The contractions came and went the rest of the day.
It was our ward's book club that night and I had really enjoyed the book (Goose Girl by Shannon Hale) and decided to go. It was a nice discussion and I really felt like the contractions had slowed. Towards the end of book club, after several people had left we starting talking about how funny SNL's election spoofs had been. Pretty soon we were all crowded around the computer, laughing hysterically at Tina Fey. In the middle of a particularly funny part I felt something funny happen up at the top of my belly. When I stood to go to the bathroom it was obvious that my water had broken. The ladies at book club were shocked at first and then broke out into cheers (don't you just love Mormons?). I called Nat and told him to get things ready and I was rushed home. By the time I got home contractions were starting to get regular.
My answer-to-prayers neighbor was quickly at my house to stay with the two sleeping big boys. I called my doctor, who told me she would meet me at the hospital and to hurry. Nat drove like a maniac to the hospital because "that's what you're supposed to do when your wife is in labor". We entered through the emergency room entrance and found our way up to labor and delivery (this was my first time at the hospital-- I wasn't able to get a tour-- they fill up months in advance). We filled out paperwork (what is the point in preregistering when you still have to sign papers and answer questions while having contractions?). I started to feel a lot of back pressure at this point. They rushed me back to a room and checked. I was at a 6 and 80% effaced. She also found that Isaac wasn't facing the right way, which explained the pressure. He was sideways. She assured me that he would correct himself during labor. It was about 10 o'clock at this point and I had to be hooked up to those awful external monitors that slip all around for 20 minutes. I hate to hold still while I am in labor but I was able to endure until then unhooked me and I could move around. I kept waiting for the contractions to get as intense as they did with Noah, but it never happened. I was able to remain calm and quiet through them. The next thing I knew I was at an eight and fully effaced. I braced myself for intensity but it never came-- the rhythmic and manageable contractions continued. Then I felt that clarity and euphoria that comes after transition and before pushing and I knew that I was close to finished. I just smiled and knew that I would soon be holding my third baby boy.
Then the urge to push came and everyone rushed in, took the bed apart, flipped on the brightest lights imaginable, and got dressed for delivery. Then the urge to push went away and everyone stood around watching me. The doctor checked and thought that Isaac had corrected his position. I waited through another couple of contractions and then pushed. He was out in two pushes. The doctor then informed me that he hadn't, in fact, turned and that I had pushed him out sideways, which I guess you aren't really supposed to be able to do. He was placed on me momentarily and then taken away to be wiped down and swaddled. He came back and latched on right away (I do love nursing).
The whole thing was 3 1/2 hours start to finish and really quite wonderful. Childbirth always leaves me in awe of what my body is capable of. This time I was also in awe of what my mind was capable of-- I was able to really relax despite all the monitoring (they wanted a lot more time on the monitors here than they did in Madison). I was also able to tune out all the people who were standing around waiting for me to push the baby out.
Right before I had Luke I asked my mom how bad labor was and she told that it's just work and that they call it labor for a reason. She was so right. It's just work.
I have been blessed with three remarkable births. For months after Luke was born I would wake up thinking about his birth (the hardest by far) and feel a deep satisfaction for having done it. Noah's labor was intense and he flew out in one push. I also contemplated on it for months later and the memory helped me to connect with him. Little Isaac, whose name means laughter, started his entry in the world while I was laughing. I think about his birth daily and it just makes me smile.
