The Birth!

Around 3:00 pm on Sunday April 18, 2010 I begin having pains that felt different from the normal Braxton Hicks contractions that I had been having. Ryan was all set to go fishing however he decided to wait around to see if these indeed were the real thing. The pains begin getting worse and coming more regularly at around 5:00 pm. I began having several other symptoms so I called the Labor and Delivery floor at Trinity Hospital. The ladies there were awesome and talked me through some things to do to help with the pain. I wanted to wait as long as possible before going to the hospital so that I would not be encouraged to get unnecessary interventions. My contractions continued to intensify and came closer together although they were not on an exact time schedule. At around 10:15 pm I told Ryan I was ready to go to the hospital. Fortunately, Ryan had the car packed, backed out and ready to go because my contractions were now 2 to 3 minutes apart.

We arrived at Trinity Hospital and the staff took us straight into Labor and Delivery. By the time I got into bed I was already past 7 cm. My labor progressed pretty fast at this point and I was told I was in the most intense part of labor. We were still waiting on the doctor to get there to give me the epidural which seemed like hours. I can't even begin to describe the pain I was in. I don't think there are words but Ryan and my nurse were great and helped talk me through the contractions. I received two bags of fluid before I could get the epidural because I was getting dehydrated from the "other symptoms" that I mentioned before. The doctor got there to give me the epidural and I was dilated to around 8 1/2 cm. He said it took longer than usual to begin working because of where I had already progressed.

For the next couple hours we waited. I was finally able to relax and let my body do the rest. Ryan's mom, Renee arrived at the hospital. The delivering doctor came in and broke my water when I was 9 1/2 cm. Not too long after this it was time to push. I talked to Sonja on the phone because she was just a few minutes from the hospital and told her I would be out shortly with my new baby. The nurses finished setting up the room and we got started. Ryan and I didn't really know what to expect. I actually thought the 2nd stage of labor would be quick. I ended up pushing for an hour and ten minutes. Ryker's head was 14 1/4 inches so they had to use the vacuum once to try to help him out. They also had to keep turning him because he was facing up.

At 4:10 am on Monday, April 19, 2010 my beautiful, perfect baby boy was born. Ryker Eben was 8 lbs 3 oz, 20 1/2 inches long. This was another indescribable moment and the best in my life. The doctor put Ryker onto my stomach as soon as he came out. I was unable to speak. I just held my baby and cried while they cleaned him up. Ryan surprisingly cut the umbilical cord (which he said that he was not going to do from the beginning). When it was time for Ryker to be weighed, Ryan held him for the first time. Seeing these two people who I loved so much together for the first time was wonderful. I could never imagine going through this without Ryan. He has been in my life (one way or another) for a long time and at that moment I had a new different kind of love for him.

When my stitches were complete Ms. Renee and Sonja were able to come in to meet Ryker. Even though I was extremely exhausted I was unable to sleep. Later that day Melita, Mama, Daddy, and Aunt Nannette arrived. We also had visits from two of my friends in Augusta, Allison and Brooke as well as several phone calls and texts. Ryan's daddy, Keith, came to meet Ryker on Tuesday.

During the stay in the hospital, we kept Ryker in the room with us with the exception of a couple of hours Monday and Tuesday night and when they had to do his testing. He adjusted well to his new world. We began breastfeeding immediately and he was not allowed any other forms of food. We gave him his pacifier on Tuesday in the early morning hours.

We were released from the hospital on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at around 11:00 am. So, our adventure is now beginning and we couldn't be more excited and nervous for what is to come. Although, we will probably make many mistakes we are ready for the challenge. Ryan has luckily been able to take 17 days off of work so that he can bound with his son and I have nothing but time with my boy until I go back to school in August.