Mason Lukes Birth Story
It all started on Wednesday, January 23 at 4:35 am. I had been sleeping when I suddenly awoke to a gushing sensation. I knew that my water had broken, so I rushed out of bed and into the bathroom. I was surprised at how much liquid was coming out of me. I cleaned up as best as I could then returned to bed. I had always worried that when my water broke, I would have sudden, intense contractions, but that turned out not to be the case. I returned to bed and tried to relax.
My husband came in at his usual time to shower and dress, and I informed him that my waters had broken. He wanted to go to the hospital right away, as he was concerned that baby would come very quickly- I think he imagined that he might need to pull over to the side of the road and deliver the baby himself! I explained that I wasnt having contractions and that I felt we had enough time to get our older children off to school and for me to have breakfast and a shower.
We arrived at the hospital at around 8:45 am. I explained that I was 39 weeks, 3 days pregnant and that my waters had broken. We were sent to maternity triage where they hooked me up to a fetal heart rate/contraction monitor. The confirmed that my membranes had indeed ruptured. A cervical exam showed that I was 2 cm dilated, and the monitor indicated that baby was handling things well. We were given the choice to stay in the hospital or to go home. We left, but they first advised us to return when contractions were steady and around ten minutes apart. Apparently, fourth babies are notoriously fast.
Shane and I stopped at Starbucks for a treat, and then headed home. He went to the garage to take care of some odd jobs, while I relaxed on the couch. I began noticing contractions coming more frequently. They werent terrible, but they were certainly noticeable and unpleasant. After having lunch, Shane and I returned to the hospital at around 2 pm.
Back in triage, they noted that baby was still handling labour well, my contractions were more consistent, and I was now 2.5 cm dilated. They did not want us to leave the hospital. And that was the beginning of our long and rather boring rest of the day. We walked around the hospital, returned periodically to triage to check in and consult with the doctor, climbed stairs, etc. I was still having contractions but not really progressing. We had a supper date in the hospital cafeteria then returned to the triage unit.
The doctor felt it best to start an induction. I was not thrilled to hear this news; I had been induced with my third child and while it wasnt terrible, I would have preferred a natural delivery. However, I was also eager to get baby out so I didnt argue. We were to move over to Labour and Delivery at the 7:30 shift change, but there were no beds available so we continued to hang out in triage. We finally moved over at around 10:30.
Ashlynn was our amazing labour and delivery nurse. Once I got into the bed, the doctor came to do another exam. After all our walking, stair climbing, and waiting, I was only 3 cm! The doctor sent in an order for an oxytocin drip, and the nurses put in an IV line. While we were waiting, Ashlynn and I discussed my previous deliveries, my pain management preferences, what happens in an induction, etc. I indicated that I wanted an epidural but would try to wait for a little bit. However, while Ashlynn and I were talking, I noticed that my contractions were really picking up. I ended up asking for the epidural right away.
Ashlynn contacted the anesthesiologist, and told me that we could wait to start the oxytocin until after I had the epidural. After around 10 minutes, the wonderful and miraculous anesthesiologist came and hooked me up to blessed relief, though I did have three contractions while he was with me. After a few minutes the epidural started to take effect. Ashlynn looked at the contraction printout and suggested that we wait forty minutes or so until the epidural had taken full effect, and then we could start the induction. It sounded good to me, so I lay there and relaxed.
I am so grateful for what happened next: Ashlynn decided to see how far I had dilated before starting the oxytocin drip. The exam revealed that I was 10 cm dilated! We couldnt quite believe it; I had gone from 3 cm (not even considered active labour) to 10 cm in a little over an hour! She had her supervisor come in to confirm it. And as soon as they finished their exams, I felt ready to push.
The nurse asked me to wait just a few minutes so she could get my doctor and collect some supplies. The doctor arrived, I got into position, waited for the next contraction, and began to push.
I had a major tear with my second child and an episiotomy with my third. I hoped to avoid both of those things with this delivery so I tried to control the pushing and to listen to the instructions of my doctor and nurse. I only pushed 6 times, and out came our beautiful baby at 12:57 am on Thursday, January 24.
It was a little boy! I was so surprised (NOT disappointed), because most people were predicting a girl, and most of the old wives tales pointed to a girl. But there was our amazing little boy! He was 7 lbs., 3 ounces and 20.5 inches long. And he was absolutely beautiful. We named him Mason Luke.
While he was getting measured and cleaned up, I delivered the placenta. The doctor told me that I had no tears at all! Woo hoo! Of my four children, Mason was my easiest, fastest and least complicated delivery. There was the threat of induction, but it turned out to be a spontaneous birth.
After a little while we moved over to the recovery unit. I sent my husband home to get some rest and to share the good news with our three other children. I got into bed and knew that I should try to sleep, but all I could do was hold my precious little boy, admire his beauty, offer a prayer of thanks for my good fortune, and feel my heart swell with love for my third son.
It all started on Wednesday, January 23 at 4:35 am. I had been sleeping when I suddenly awoke to a gushing sensation. I knew that my water had broken, so I rushed out of bed and into the bathroom. I was surprised at how much liquid was coming out of me. I cleaned up as best as I could then returned to bed. I had always worried that when my water broke, I would have sudden, intense contractions, but that turned out not to be the case. I returned to bed and tried to relax.
My husband came in at his usual time to shower and dress, and I informed him that my waters had broken. He wanted to go to the hospital right away, as he was concerned that baby would come very quickly- I think he imagined that he might need to pull over to the side of the road and deliver the baby himself! I explained that I wasnt having contractions and that I felt we had enough time to get our older children off to school and for me to have breakfast and a shower.
We arrived at the hospital at around 8:45 am. I explained that I was 39 weeks, 3 days pregnant and that my waters had broken. We were sent to maternity triage where they hooked me up to a fetal heart rate/contraction monitor. The confirmed that my membranes had indeed ruptured. A cervical exam showed that I was 2 cm dilated, and the monitor indicated that baby was handling things well. We were given the choice to stay in the hospital or to go home. We left, but they first advised us to return when contractions were steady and around ten minutes apart. Apparently, fourth babies are notoriously fast.
Shane and I stopped at Starbucks for a treat, and then headed home. He went to the garage to take care of some odd jobs, while I relaxed on the couch. I began noticing contractions coming more frequently. They werent terrible, but they were certainly noticeable and unpleasant. After having lunch, Shane and I returned to the hospital at around 2 pm.
Back in triage, they noted that baby was still handling labour well, my contractions were more consistent, and I was now 2.5 cm dilated. They did not want us to leave the hospital. And that was the beginning of our long and rather boring rest of the day. We walked around the hospital, returned periodically to triage to check in and consult with the doctor, climbed stairs, etc. I was still having contractions but not really progressing. We had a supper date in the hospital cafeteria then returned to the triage unit.
The doctor felt it best to start an induction. I was not thrilled to hear this news; I had been induced with my third child and while it wasnt terrible, I would have preferred a natural delivery. However, I was also eager to get baby out so I didnt argue. We were to move over to Labour and Delivery at the 7:30 shift change, but there were no beds available so we continued to hang out in triage. We finally moved over at around 10:30.
Ashlynn was our amazing labour and delivery nurse. Once I got into the bed, the doctor came to do another exam. After all our walking, stair climbing, and waiting, I was only 3 cm! The doctor sent in an order for an oxytocin drip, and the nurses put in an IV line. While we were waiting, Ashlynn and I discussed my previous deliveries, my pain management preferences, what happens in an induction, etc. I indicated that I wanted an epidural but would try to wait for a little bit. However, while Ashlynn and I were talking, I noticed that my contractions were really picking up. I ended up asking for the epidural right away.
Ashlynn contacted the anesthesiologist, and told me that we could wait to start the oxytocin until after I had the epidural. After around 10 minutes, the wonderful and miraculous anesthesiologist came and hooked me up to blessed relief, though I did have three contractions while he was with me. After a few minutes the epidural started to take effect. Ashlynn looked at the contraction printout and suggested that we wait forty minutes or so until the epidural had taken full effect, and then we could start the induction. It sounded good to me, so I lay there and relaxed.
I am so grateful for what happened next: Ashlynn decided to see how far I had dilated before starting the oxytocin drip. The exam revealed that I was 10 cm dilated! We couldnt quite believe it; I had gone from 3 cm (not even considered active labour) to 10 cm in a little over an hour! She had her supervisor come in to confirm it. And as soon as they finished their exams, I felt ready to push.
The nurse asked me to wait just a few minutes so she could get my doctor and collect some supplies. The doctor arrived, I got into position, waited for the next contraction, and began to push.
I had a major tear with my second child and an episiotomy with my third. I hoped to avoid both of those things with this delivery so I tried to control the pushing and to listen to the instructions of my doctor and nurse. I only pushed 6 times, and out came our beautiful baby at 12:57 am on Thursday, January 24.
It was a little boy! I was so surprised (NOT disappointed), because most people were predicting a girl, and most of the old wives tales pointed to a girl. But there was our amazing little boy! He was 7 lbs., 3 ounces and 20.5 inches long. And he was absolutely beautiful. We named him Mason Luke.
While he was getting measured and cleaned up, I delivered the placenta. The doctor told me that I had no tears at all! Woo hoo! Of my four children, Mason was my easiest, fastest and least complicated delivery. There was the threat of induction, but it turned out to be a spontaneous birth.
After a little while we moved over to the recovery unit. I sent my husband home to get some rest and to share the good news with our three other children. I got into bed and knew that I should try to sleep, but all I could do was hold my precious little boy, admire his beauty, offer a prayer of thanks for my good fortune, and feel my heart swell with love for my third son.
LOVE his hair.
