Jack's Birth Story

Our little Jack came to us four days past my due date. For a week or so prior I started having some days where I felt like I could go into labor at any moment, and then other days where I felt like labor was never going to happen. There were a few times where I had a few contractions, but nothing major or regular. Friday morning the day after he was due I decided that I was fully ready for him to come out and I felt like maybe he was needing a little help. I started going on walks, I went shopping several times with Sean's mom, I even drank a little castor oil, but nothing seemed to be working. I was also extremely determined not to be induced. I desperately wanted my body to go into labor naturally, but I was also starting to worry that I wouldn't go into labor on my own before Sean's mom had to leave. Sunday I wasn't feeling particularly close to labor and in my worry I said a very earnest prayer that Jack would be ready to be born the next day and that I would go into labor on my own. Sean and I went to bed without me having any contractions or really showing much progress. I woke up all of a sudden about 2:40am in the middle of some very painful contractions. I had about 3 of them back to back before I was even fully awake enough to realize what was going on. Then out of nowhere my water broke! I know there are lots of different ways people explain how it felt for their water to break but I honestly felt like a huge water balloon exploded between my legs. It was crazy! That's when I woke up Sean in a slight panic to tell him my water broke. He jumped up out of bed and started to help me get up and into the bathroom. From the bathroom I told him everything that I needed to go to the hospital. He went and woke up his mom. He said she looked like a kid on Christmas morning! She was thrilled that I was having this baby. As soon as my water broke contractions came hard and fast. Luckily the hospital wasn't too far and we made it there about 3:15am. I got checked in, and set up in my room. They checked my cervix and discovered I had already dilated 7cm. (three days before I was 2.5cm). They started an IV and had to start antibiotics immediately because I tested positive for the strep B virus. The next hour and a half was extremely intense. I had to wait for an epidural because they had to get the antibiotics through me first. Each contraction seemed to get stronger and sometimes they would be back to back with hardly any break in between. It was honestly the most intense pain I have ever experienced in my life. Finally the anesthesiologist came in about 4:45am and I was able to get an epidural. I sat up on the side of the bed and basically hung on to Sean for dear life as the contractions came while she got everything set up. This epidural was not as good as the one that I had with Lincoln. It relieved pain, but I could still feel almost 100% of the intense pressure of each contraction. It also made my legs extremely heavy, which started to become very uncomfortable. After about 2 hours I realized that I was ready to push and I called my nurses to let them know. They checked me, discovered I was fully dilated, but the Dr decided to let me go ahead and wait about 15 min before pushing to see if he would move father down just with the contractions. Then the shift change happened! So I was waiting for about 45 min for the Dr to come in. I was going crazy! I felt like Jack was going to pop out without any pushing and even though the epidural was dulling the normal pain sensation the level of pressure I was feeling was almost unbearable. I started to bare down a little bit on my own, which eased the discomfort of each contraction. Finally the Dr was ready and they got me in the position to push. With the first contraction I pushed on I immediately realized that I could feel almost everything. When I pushed out Lincoln I couldn't feel anything down there, but I was able to push really well just because I knew how to use those muscles. This time I could feel everything except for the actual pain sensation. It seems so weird to describe, but that's what it was like. I think I pushed on three contractions and near the end of the third I realized that if I relaxed that I would be in some extreme discomfort waiting for the next one. So I pushed harder than ever right at the end of the contractions and Jack came flying out like a canon ball. His whole head and body came out in one brisk motion and he landed on the bed as the Dr sort of caught him. I think everyone was totally shocked! Immediately I felt a sense of relief. He started crying and they put him up on my tummy so I could see him. It was amazing!
I got to hold him for a few minutes and then the nurse cleaned him off, and measured and weighed him. He was 7lbs 6oz and 20.5 inches long. We think he actually has brown eyes. Lincoln's eyes were dark grey and didn't turn blue for a while, but Jack's eyes actually look brown instead of grey. I guess we'll see. He is such a sweetheart! We are so happy to have him! Lincoln loves him too! It's been so awesome to see him interact with his little brother. What a wonderful week!