Joseph Anthony arrived 4/9/12!

KDeola · April 2012

Hi ladies! I'm a little late in updating, but I haven't been on the bump in a while. Joseph Anthony was born on April 9, 2012 at 5:13 am weighing 8 lbs 3 ozs and 21 inches long! He was due on April 5, so 4 days past EDD. He was much bigger than the Drs. had thought he would be; I was told to expect a 7 lb baby, but we all know they can be off on that. Here is my birth story:

The days after my due date were increasingly uncomfortable for me. I walked every day and would have mild crampy contractions the entire time, only to have them die down. On Easter Sunday, My DH and I went to his parents home for dinner. When we left our house at around 2:30 and I was again getting crampy contractions, but I didn't think much of it. By the time we sat for dinner, they were starting to get stronger and by 4:30 I was feeling them wrap around my back. By 5:30 I confessed to the group that I was indeed getting stronger contractions, but I was slightly embarrassed to let them know in case it didn't amount to anything. We then left for the 1/2 hr drive home, with contractions quickly getting more intense and now painful. I started timing them at 6 pm and they were between 3 and 4 minutes apart and getting oh so strong! Around 7, I felt a trickle of fluid during a contraction, even though I wasn't certain, that was my water breaking. By 7:30 we were in the car to the hospital and by now the contractions were almost bringing me to tears and around 2 minutes apart. I arrived at the hospital at 8 pm and in triage I was only 2 cm dilated and about 80 % effaced. I was not prepared for how quickly the contractions progressed or for how painful they were. I was now only having about a minute's rest between contractions. I had hoped to labor a bit before receiving an epidural, but as time went on I knew I wouldn't be able to go for too long. I didn't get up to a room until 11:00 and by 11:30 I had gotten my epidural. What a change and a wonderful thing it was! I was in no pain at all after that. The nurse dimmed the lights, DH took a nap and I rested (did not sleep though). At 3 am, I had not gotten checked again and I was feeling pressure. I asked the nurse about it and to her and my surprise I was at 10 cm! She said I would begin pushing in one hour. The whole thing was very calm and surreal to me. At 4 am I did a few practice pushes, and it took me a few times to get the hang of it. After one hour of pushing, Joseph was born at 5:13 am. Just thinking about the moment makes me want to cry, I don't think anything can prepare you for such an event. The love I feel and the joy this boy brings is immeasurable. He is now 10 days old and after the initial rough first week of sleep deprivation we are doing very well. I couldn't imagine life without this bundle of joy!

Beener0514 · April 2012

Congratulations!

jenbelsan · April 2012

Congrats! Love the name, it is both my brother and grandfathers name!

shannm · April 2012

Great birth story! Congrats!

TrendyTina · April 2012

Such a beautiful, gentile story. I'm so happy for you and so glad things worked out perfectly. I don't think you could have asked for a better birth experience. xoxoxo