Baby Mack is 1 month old! He is the sweetest little thing and is adored by all of us! J
Before we get too far away I wanted to write his birth story so we can always remember that exciting time J
I had been admitted overnight at 37 weeks due to having regular contractions 3 minutes apart. The contractions persisted the whole time I was there but they went ahead and discharged me as it didn’t seem like my exam was changing. After that false alarm we figured he would come very soon after – I took it easy for a few days, got through Easter and somehow through a busy spring break with the girls. On the last day of spring break I figured he could come so did not hold back – walked 8 miles that day, visited the mall, park and farm… yet somehow he was still hanging in there!
We went ahead and scheduled an induction for 39 weeks, April 13th. We felt like it made sense logistically given my history of fast labors and the need to make sure all the other girls had their care arranged. I had some mixed emotions because a big part of me just wanted him to come on his own when he was ready, but we went ahead with that plan.
I worked as planned that week, even moonlighting for a few hours that Wednesday evening. Thursday morning I wrapped up my work and went to meet Harper for lunch at her school. I hadn’t gotten around to that all year and wanted to be able to before Mack was here.
As I was walking to my car I felt a little pop and immediately called Andy to let him know that I thought my water had broken. Fortunately, he had just picked up both the other girls from school so I wasn’t actually in charge of any kids when it happened! I trudged through the hospital during lunchtime, literally with my shoes squeaking and made it to triage. After what seemed like forever they finally got me into a room and I got settled.
My contractions did not start immediately or at least were not very painful for probably the first hour after my water broke; they leisurely let a student poke around my arm for an IV for way too long but finally got that and a resident came to visit me. I had made it clear that I would really like an epidural and felt reassured when she checked me and I was only 7.5cm.
I feel like that exam must have moved everything right along because the pain became much worse and I was so happy to see the anesthesia resident. I asked him how long it would take him to get the epidural in and he said 5 minutes ;) By the time he came back with the attending I was 10 cm and in serious pain. My only requirement was that I had to sit still enough for them to put a needle in my spine and I almost had to tell them I just couldn’t do it. But then I thought… of course I can sit still for a brief moment with the alternative being pushing out that baby unmedicated J
Long story short, my OB was AMAZING and suggested that they just do a spinal block; less than 60 seconds after they were done I was like… is this pain really decreasing or is it in my head?? The anesthesiologist loved that and got a good psychiatrist joke out of that J The pain was diminished significantly but I could still move entirely, no catheter in my back and it just made everything so much more relaxing/less stressful. And as the resident had promised, they walked into the room at 1:17 and the block was complete by 1:22 ;)
We started to push soon after and about 3-4 rounds later, our sweet, sweet boy was born. I was so emotional! I think because I knew it would be the last time I got to deliver a baby and I was just so thankful for another healthy pregnancy, delivery and baby. We have been so incredibly lucky.
Some of my favorite moments in my life are the quiet moments soon after a baby is born when the mass of people leave the room and we’re just left to snuggle with and meet this sweet new person. We immediately thought he looked an awful lot like Emma Kate – lots of blonde hair, blue eyes. But assured Harper and Caroline he definitely had their nose and mouths ;). His official birth time was 1:34 PM, weighed 8 lbs 12 oz and was 20.5 inches long.
We love this little guy so much and are so thankful to have in our family!!
