Dear Conor,
This is your birth story. I have been waiting for a chance to write it all down for you so that neither you nor I ever forget how you came to be a part of this family.
On Monday, December 12 around 12pm I went upstairs to take a little nap and started having contractions. They were coming every hour and they were pretty strong and didn't go away no matter what position I was in (standing, sitting, or laying down). Because of this I texted both your dad (who was downstairs) and your Grandma Mary to let them know what was going on. Grandma Mary surprised us by coming straight up that afternoon and she got here around dinner time. The contractions continued through the night and into the morning, occurring every 15 minutes.
On Tuesday, December 14, your Dad, Grandma Mary, Hunter, and I sat around the living room waiting for things to progress. But - they never really did. I checked with the midwives in the morning and they said to hold out at home until the contractions were coming every 7 minutes; but while they got to 10 minutes they never came any closer together and actually started moving back toward the 15 minute mark. I ended up calling the midwives around dinner time to determine what the next steps would be. They told me to take it easy for the rest of the night and call if things changed.
Well, things did change - but not till very early in the morning (around 2am). At that time I woke up with strong contractions in my abdomen and over the next two hours they continued to increase in strength and frequency until around 4am when they were about 4-7 minutes apart (depending on the contraction and if I caught it at its true start). So, we called the midwives and they said to come on into the hospital!
We got up and started to get ready to leave. Your Grandma Mary was going to stay with Hunter but I really wanted her to come because I wasn't sure how fast things would go once we were at the hospital so we left Hunter at home and your Grandma Janet came to get him an hour or so later. He stayed with her for the entire day and slept over that night so we didn't have to worry about him at all!
We got to the hospital around 7am and I was admitted straight into a room and got to skip triage.
Once at the hospital things did not go very quickly. I labored in bed for several hours before it was decided that medical intervention would begin (as I had only dilated 2 centimeters on my own from where I was the Friday before). Pitocin began and the contractions got stronger and closer together - but they were not breaking my water as the contractions were not consistently 3 minutes apart but would vary between 3 and 6 minutes. The nurse indicated that this meant my body was not quite ready to begin the real process of delivery.
We were beginning to feel that things were going to take longer than we had thought so we sent your Dad out for treats and some magazines for us to read. He returned with a cute little pink monkey for me to use as a focus item when things got tough. I can't tell you how much that little monkey truly helped as time went on. That little monkey is now in your room as a reminder of how sweet your Dad is and how even the littlest thing can make a difference.
Fast forward a few more hours and my body was struggling with the contractions. I would feel them coming on and if I had been in the bathroom I would need to rush to the bed before it officially started as they hurt more standing up. At one point I did not make it from the bathroom to the bed and your Dad had to hold me tight to help me get through it before helping me to the bed. While you Conor will never experience contractions, your future wife will, and I encourage you to support her to handle the pain and/or discomfort any way you can.
There came a point when your Dad could tell that things were getting stronger and the pain was getting harder to cope with and he asked me how I was doing. I told him that I thought I was ok but he insisted on the medication and I am glad that he did because minutes later the pain became so intense that I started crying due to the pain I was feeling in both my abdomen and my left hip. The anesthesiologist finally arrived and after what seemed like forever (and it was probably closer to 5-7 minutes) he administered the first epidural. I think it was shortly after the medication was administered that my water was broken by the midwife.
That's right - I said the first because about 2 hours later I needed to have another one done because the pain in my hip was continuing so strongly that I was unable to use any of the coping mechanisms and I started crying again. So, another anesthesiologist was called and this time he not only redid the first epidural but also administered an intrafecal (a fast acting but short term shot of pain medication). I could feel it taking effect pretty fast and the pain was gone and I found myself sleepy. Labor is so intensive that it is exhausting and I had been battling the pain for so long that I literally fell asleep within minutes of the doctor finishing up. Your dad says I slept like a log for about an hour or so - until I started making faces in my sleep.
I can't recall making faces but I do recall asking him why I could feel the pain in my hip again. Your dad paged the nurse and both the nurse and the midwife 'came running' according to him. He told them what was happening and the midwife checked me and said I was fully effaced and dilated and we were going to deliver you right them and there. There wasn't even time to think about it because the next thing I knew we were pushing you out. I pushed for about 15 minutes before you came into the world.
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| First Pictures |
Your dad stood next to me on the right and Grandma Mary held my left leg for me until that moment you arrived. Once you arrived you were placed immediately on my chest. You were a little slimy but incredibly warm and you nuzzled under my chin right away and I could feel you breathing. You didn't do a lot of crying but you were clearly healthy and you were mine. Your Grandma Mary cut your cord and they wrapped you up nice and snug.
You were born at 11:41pm on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 weighing 8 pounds 10.6 ounces with a length of 20.5 inches and in that minute you changed our lives forever!
They always say that you fall in love with your baby the moment they place them on your chest. I can't say that its love you feel at that exact moment - its more a feeling of awe. You are simply amazed that this little person came from your body and is now there on your chest, breathing his first breaths. You are in shock that the little hands and feet you are touching and checking for completeness were the same feet and hands that made parts of your stomach move just days before. Once all these feelings pass you then begin to feel that unconditional love that so many talk about.
Conor, once your Dad and Grandma Mary left for the night and the nurses and hospital staff closed the door and you and I were alone for the first time, that is when I truly fell in love with you. I made a promise to you right then and there - that no matter what turns our lives take I will always be the very best mom to you that I possibly can but most importantly, I will always love you!
Happy Birthday Conor!
xoxo
Mom
