I am now the mother of two children. I can't believe I am saying that! So many wonderful things have happened in our family in the past few years. The most recent events are somewhat of a blur and I don't know where to begin!
A month before I was due, I found out my doctor was going to be out of town the two weeks around my due date. Unless I was 6 days late, he would miss it. He had great on call partner doctors so I would be well taken care of no matter what happened.
I was a week overdue with Jack. That was such a long week. I was fully expecting to be overdue with Owen as well- my mom and sisters almost all went to their due dates; most went overdue- It's in the family genes. I was due Sunday May 11th- Mothers Day. Colin said I could stay home from church if I wanted but there was no way- the Bishop teaches Relief Society and gives us treats. I was going to church. So at 40 weeks pregnant, I sat through three hours of church and they chocolate, fruit with fruit dip and treats were SO worth it- despite the sore tailbones:)
I was half expecting to make it to at least Thursday or Friday and still be pregnant. Monday, I had an appointment where the doctor said Owen was posterior. That kind of freaked me out but after reassuring words from my sisters, I realized that wasn't a sure sign of difficult labor as I had expected. The doctor stripped my membrane and I went home.
Tuesday morning, I felt the same as I had on Monday. But in the afternoon, I started to have more regular contractions- about 8 minutes apart. At 6pm, they were 6 minutes apart. I was in denial and called my sister Miriam. She said I was definitely in labor. That hit me like a brick wall- in labor? Already? But it was only Tuesday and my water hadn't broken! I wasn't supposed to have a baby til the end of the week! By 8pm, they were 4 minutes apart and I was starting to really feel them. I called my cousin to come stay the night with Jack and we headed to the hospital.
I got checked in, changed, had a popsicle, and it was only 11pm. I was expecting to not have a baby in my arms until LATER in the morning. Owen had other plans.
I labored for a few hours without pain meds. Miriam got there and helped me get through the harder contractions. She is amazing. She helped Colin to help me through my contractions. It made contractions not only more bearable but less scary. My water still hadn't broken but I got to the point I wanted to cry and couldn't talk through the contractions so I asked for an epidural. The nurse said they could break my water first then get an epidural because there was an on call doctor just down the hall finishing a delivery. I agreed and she came and checked me. I was at 8cm! I got that far without an epidural! She said my water sac was bulging so she suggested I get an epidural first because once my water broke, he was going to come fast. The anesthesiologist got there and got me some relief within about 20 minutes. I laid down and 2 minutes later my water broke on its own! Good timing.
The next 30 minutes was a blur. My heart rate dropped slightly so they gave me an oxygen mask, they rolled me on my side to get Owen in the right position, nurses started coming in with all the delivery equipment, and re-positioned Owens heart rate monitors. The on call doctor came in then all the sudden, the nurses told me to push. I wasn't ready! How was this already happening? It was only 4am!
I pushed five times, the doctor gave me a little cut, pushed one more time and he was there. Screaming right away. 4:11am. I was so overcome with emotion, I could hardly breathe. It is so hard to put into words what it is like to give birth to a child. Your own little creation. My body did that- grew him and brought him into the world.
Sometimes, with all the different debates and issues going on with birth control, abortion, and the objectifying of women, the sacredness of what women do is pushed aside. Carrying a baby is a sacred experience in of itself. But giving birth is the most sacred and amazing things I have done. I am proud to be a mother. It is my calling. It is my life. And I love it.
There he was. My little Owen. They put him on my chest, we were both crying. His little body was so beautiful. I didn't want to let go of him. I wanted him to be brand new for always. To hold him close like that. For him to need me. I know he will change. But for that moment, he was brand new.
Your heart swells to capacity when you have a child. How can you have more than one? When you have your second child, you love them just as much. Your heart expands bigger than you ever knew it could go.
Owen Robert
5.14.2014
6 lbs 14 oz
4:11am
Birth photo credit to Miriam Hone
Newborn photo credit to Hannah Dunnigan
