Hello and sorry its been so long--having a baby is hard work!! Here is the story of how our baby came into the world.
Little Rowan came just in the nick of time, the day before I was to be induced! I started
contracting on Sunday September 9th at 4 am. At first they were just like mild cramps, but by the time I woke up, I was thinking maybe I was in labor. I wasn't really sure until about 4 hours later, because I had been feeling similar pains for the weeks prior as well. Mike was unsure about whether he should go to work or not, but we finally decided that this was probably it! I called my mom, who was already in the car on her way up to be here for the previously scheduled induction on Monday, and told her I was in labor...she was so excited that she made it from SoCal to Oakland in about 5 and a half hours... unheard of!!
The rest of the day is practically a blur... We made Italian herb bread, I remember that! I remember yelling to my mom, "okay another one!" She helped us keep track of how frequently the contractions were coming! I remember just feeling like the day was lasting forever, although now it seems like it went so fast... by about 7pm my contractions had been coming every 5-6-7 minutes for about 2 hours, so we called the hospital and they told us to come in. I remember dreading the car ride, by that point I was very uncomfortable in just about every position. But it ended up being fine, thanks to my long s-shaped body pillow, we must have been quite a site to see heading down the freeway, my legs up on the dash and a huge white pillow snaked around me!
When we got to the hospital, they took us into a room and put a monitor on to see how the baby was doing and also checked to see how dilated I was. I was 4cm--good enough to be admitted -thank God!! That was the one thing that I really didn't want to happen--driving all the way to Walnut Creek and then having them say--"go home, and call us when your contractions are more regular and closer together." We did well!!
Once we got settled in the room-a very nice, large birthing room with TV VCR/DVD player, and a whole station for taking care of baby, it was about 8pm. My mom and Mike were very helpful and gave me tons of moral support and most of all back massages... later on in the evening Mike's mom came and took over the back massages. Our midwife was great, forgot her name already, but I really liked her. Some time during the night, I got really tired of all the contractions and pain and had a dose of Fentinol, an IV drug that just makes you feel like you had a couple of glasses of wine...it just helped me to relax for about a half an hour. Also at some point they lost the baby on the monitor, and made me move all over the place to try and find his heart rate again... this hurt and made me quite annoyed.
Some time around 1am, the midwife came in to check on me and announced that I was 10cm dilated and asked if I wanted to push. I didn't really have an urge to push, but I figured I'd try. It seemed really anti-intuitive for me to push, which is different from everything I have heard about giving birth...but I guess I did pretty well because 54 minutes later, I had myself a baby!!
The best part was when they laid him on my chest--he was so awake and alert, and it was so awesome to finally meet him after so long! The worst part was when they took him over to weigh him and wash him etc. because I could hear everyone talking to him and about him and I was still laying there on the bed being stitched up...arghh!!
Anyway motherhood is definitely trying at times, but it is the most amazing thing I have ever done. Mike and I are so enjoying getting to know Rowan and are feeling like the time is just flying by. Rowan is already 6 weeks old and is starting to really look like a baby... He is smiling lots and cooing too!! Here are some of the best pictures from the first 6 weeks!! Enjoy!
My first days in the hospital and dad is
already messing with me!
It's my 2nd day and I'm already so
strong, I can lift my head up!
First days at home, smiling at my monkey!!
My first bath, not so bad!
Me looking cute in my turtle towel!
Me getting to know my kitty, Seven. 5 weeks.
Wow both me and Seven are sitting
pretty!
Hello and Happy Halloween!!
