Capturing Life's Moments...: Eric's Birth Story

A lot of Eric's pre-birth was updated in short phone updates made by Scott throughout the process (arriving at the hospital, waiting, water breaking, etc.) but I ultimately experienced A LOT more than was said...and since I really do regret not writing Emily's birth story (almost 4 years ago) I will be ever remorseful if I don't do Eric's either.

That being said....

Here goes:

It would be really cool to say "It was a dark and stormy evening..." at the beginning of a birth story, and I know a few people who really can say that! But, my family tree proves that babies birthed by Nelson women come late...and usually only when the doctor says it's time.... a week late.

Eric was no exception. We actually got to pick his birthday. His due date had come and gone, and since the doctor won't induce on a Saturday which was the "week" mark past the due date, we got to pick. Scott had it all figured out. If we did it on a Wednesday, he would get the most time off of UPS...3 day "paternity" leave plus the weekend. June 16th was decided. Plus, it was Eric's Uncle Brent's birthday. (Emily similarly shares her birthday was a member of the Mabb family...Tori, her cousin.) Why not?!

So, as inductions go at Valley View Medical Center, you are given a paper with your tentative induction date and time to arrive, 1:00 AM. You are supposed to call an hour in advance to make sure that the Labor and Delivery unit is not completely swamped with birthing mothers, since you technically could wait. (WHAT?!)

The day before, however, I had noticed that Eric didn't seem like he was moving as much as usual. I laid down to do my "Kick Counts" (baby kicks ten times in two hours...if I remember correctly) but he didn't pass. I started to work up all sorts of craziness in my head and decided for my own peace of mind that I would go into Labor and Delivery to just have them check. I laid on the bed, and they hooked up me up to the fetal heart monitor and monitored the baby for probably an hour or so. Everything checked out fine. WHAT a relief.

That night we got everything ready. Packed the bag. Took "before" pictures. Explained to Emily where Mommy and Daddy would be for the next couple of days. And also, the best thing of all...Scott gave me a Priesthood Blessing. This is my favorite part. It gives me *such* a feeling of comfort and peace. It also makes me so grateful to have a worthy priesthood holder in my home.

Scott's mom was here to help with preparations the week prior and to watch Emily when we went in. It was a great relief to have her help, she is so patient with Emily! I knew Emily would be in good hands and that, as well, gave me a large amount of comfort.

What did NOT give me comfort was the fact that I might NOT get to go in that night if they were too busy! Hands trembling, I made the phone call to ask if they were ready for me, and (huge sigh) they said yes. That last hour before I left....toook....for....ev.....ver... But we made it.

I was pretty proud that I had painted my own toes the day before my induction. Watermelon toes!

When you arrive for an induction, they hook you up to the fetal heart rate monitor and a contraction monitor. I also tested positive for Strep B at 36 weeks, so they hooked me up to my IV of Antibiotics as well. I had them put the IV in my right hand for some awful reason... will NOT do that again. (Left hand for sure next time.) They placed the "pill" of whatever it is that softens your oh so stubborn cervix and I went to sleep. I'm not sure what Scott did during this time, but he had a really cool fold out chair and I think he slept too. They have most of the lights off, the room is very spacious, and I was overall feeling anxious, but comfortable enough to still sleep.

Note to self: Don't put it in your dominant hand next time! DUH!

Sometime in the morning, they up-ed my Pitocin to start getting things rolling. And then the contractions began. I don't remember ever feeling a real contraction with Emily because she was posterior and all I remember was awful awful horrible back pain. With Eric, I was able to feel the contractions. Scott and I were watching The Price is Right (one of my fav's) on his phone via WiFi and when a contraction would start, I would pick a point on the adjacent wall and stare at it and breath through them. It was not so bad! The nurse came in and checked me and said that I was at a 4, and asked if I wanted to get the epidural. (which we had already planned on doing). I told her 'not yet' because I was kind of enjoying feeling the contractions and victory of breathing through them on my own. I think she came back in a two or three times and I kept saying... "Let me go 20 more minutes." They really weren't bad and each new contraction felt empowering to me.

Chillin' with Mama

Checkin' something out with that Emily scowl.

But in the end, I did end up getting an epidural before the contractions started getting "bad." To this end, I felt like I had "cheated" labor. It seemed so easy compared to Emily's pre-birth. (Okay, FINE, I'll write her story after this one.) There were not any other medications needed for pain. I was happy as a clam and I think I probably took a nap. I know that Emily came to visit with Scott's mom, JoAnne, and it was so nice to see her cute little face. She was looking around for the baby though and was ready for him to be here! (Weren't we all??) We told them it would probably be a bit longer, so they went home to wait.

Probably the last picture with Eric "inside"

Waiting patiently. (PS I love my big pink pillow!)

So this whole process began at 1:00am for the induction. By about noon, things were starting to progress. I was having a hard time keeping the silly fetal heart-rate monitor on the baby and the nurses had to keep coming in to adjust it. Then, at one point, there was a knocking-type sound. It was very strange. Like the baby had kicked or knocked RIGHT ON the monitor because it was really loud. The nurse who was monitoring me out in the nurses station came right in to see what it was and I told her that it was just the baby or something knocking on my monitor. Weird! So she flipped me to my other side and BAM. I felt like I needed to push. It was crazy. It was like Eric was knocking on the monitor as if saying "Okay, ready or not! Here I come!"

The nurse asked me how long it took me to push my first child out. To my response, "Ten minutes." She said, OKAY! I"ll go call the doctor right now! And good thing she did. I was literally waiting for them to get everything set up. Started pushing and about 5 minutes later...TA DA! It's a boy! And he had dimples.

And I was immediately in love.

My cute little man.

And so was his daddy.

The placenta delivered just fine and I tore just a tiny bit. I requested to nurse right away and since I knew what I was doing this time around, it went very well. He nursed for 45 minutes!! The nurses were amazed. Different nurses kept coming in and saying "Wow, I heard he nursed for 45 minutes!" Already famous.

During labor while I couldn't eat, my sister Kara had mentioned something about a donut.
The entire time I was in l abor, all I wanted was a donut. So after I delivered, Scott delieverd--my donut!
But Emily ate all of my sprinkles. :)

Everything else went very well. Emily came to visit and kept asking about his "big bum"...which made everyone laugh. (It didn't look like hers...but an anatomy lesson just had made it onto our to-do list at her age quite yet.) Eric was a very calm baby and stayed in our room the entire time. I stayed until Friday afternoon.

Going home will be a whole new story.... here are some pictures of the time in the hospital.