Leslie: Nathan Christopher's Birth Story

Posted Friday, January 07, 2011 3:32 PM

"We left for the hospital and it was the worst ride of my life." 

Thought it was just any other day…

My day started out like any other.  I woke up having to go to the bathroom and realized it was much brighter in our bedroom than normal.  I looked at the time on the alarm clock and realized that we had overslept.  It was 6:13 in the morning.  My DH is usually way gone by that point so I told him the time and asked him if he was going to work.  He decided to stay home since we still had a lot to do to get ready for the baby and my due date was that Thursday.  He also decided to keep my DD home from daycare that day.

I went and jumped in the shower to get ready for work and as I was just about to turn off the water I felt a little trickle.  At this point I wasn’t sure if it was my water breaking so I stayed in the shower for a few minutes longer.  I felt another trickle and thought this must be it.  When I gave birth to my DD my water broke in a gush so I was positive with her.  I got out of the shower and started to get dressed and had another trickle and knew at this point that my water was breaking but I hadn’t started having contractions.  I went and told my DH that my water was breaking and then I went upstairs to my parents and told my mom.  She was off from work that day.  My sister woke up late that morning also and was just dropping off my nephew for school.

I waited a bit and called my midwife.  They weren’t technically open yet and the answering service started taking my info and decided to try the office and see if anyone was in yet.  Luckily they were.  It was a little after 8.  At this point I had started to have contractions but they were fairly mild.  The nurse told me to call them back at 11:30 to check in unless my contractions got to the point that I couldn’t talk or walk through them.  Being that we were going for a natural delivery they wanted me to labor at home for as long as possible.

Jet setting to the hospital

I sent my DH down to the store to pick up a few things that we needed for the hospital.  While he was gone my contractions started coming faster, closer, and stronger.  I was also having severe back pain but my DD was so wonderful.  She was rubbing my back every time I had a contraction.  It was about 9:30 and I decided to call my midwife because I was in a lot of pain.  They told me to come in.  I called my husband who fortunately was on his way home and told him we had to leave now!!! 

We left for the hospital and it was the worst ride of my life.  I was having a very difficult time sitting because of all the back pain so every time I had a contraction I would arch my back and squeeze my DH hand.  We finally arrive at the hospital about 20 minutes later even though it felt like forever.  We pulled into the ER and fortunately they were waiting for me.  My midwife had informed them that we were on our way.  The nurse came with a wheel chair but I decided to walk up to the maternity ward. 

I was in my room and looked at the clock and it said 11:13.  The nurse helped me change and get the monitors on me and my midwife came in and checked me and told me I was fully dilated and could push at any time.  My water wasn’t completely broken but we decided to give it a few minutes to see if it would break on its own.  I was having a very difficult time lying on my back so the nurse had me stand and lean on the bed while my midwife got changed and set up all the delivery tools.

Everything happens for a reason

It was finally time.  My midwife decided to finish breaking my water.  Oh boy did I feel pain at that point.  She decided to have me get on my hands and knees since my back was killing me.  After a few pushes my son was out. 

Nathan Christopher was born at 12:16 weighing 9lbs. 1 oz. 21 inches long.  I was only at the hospital for 1 hour…Talk about quick!!! 

I truly believe everything happens for a reason.  My DH overslept (I don’t think he would have made it home in time), my mom was off, and my sister was also running late.  So everyone was there for the birth…

> Want to share your birth story? Email it now to Bump Eileen at echu@theknot.com.