birth story, Pregnancy, Walker

Walker’s Birth Story

IMG_3327 Well, our second born is here! Walker Jared Johannes! Born Sunday, April 9, 2017 at 6:27pm, weighing in at 9lb 1oz and 21.25″ inches long. Before my memory escapes me, I wanted to document my birth experience so I can remember it, just as I did for Jace’s birth.

Little Walker was 5 days past due when things started to kick in (Jace was 2 days past due). I don’t know why, but I really thought he’d come early for us, but he didn’t! I also thought he’d be SMALLER, but I was wrong, again. I went to my regular weekly Doctor appointment on the Friday before. I was having some small braxton hicks contractions that the Doctor could feel (I couldn’t really, only brief cramping that was barely noticable). I had been 3cm dilated for 2 weeks at this point. She scheduled me for an induction the coming Monday, the day before I hit 41 weeks. At this point, there was an end in sight! I was ready, and feeling large and sleeping had almost been impossible for me.

The next day, Saturday, the little contractions seemed to become more noticeable. Nothing I couldn’t handle, I barely noticed them still. We were invited to a wedding and to our surprise, since there was no baby yet, we were able to go! But I had nothing to wear, so we went up to Ross and I found a dress big enough to cover me for $10. At this point, I was emotional on and off that day. Just exhausted and done! :(( At the reception, the little contractions still came and went. Nothing serious to me at all. Thankfully we were to able to enjoy a little date night out for a beautiful wedding and good food . . .

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Now, fast forward to Sunday morning, around 8am, as I was pressing Publish on My Little Streaker post, I notice my contractions are about 20 minutes apart. Then, when I pee soon after, I notice some jelly stuff or leakage. Not constant but definitely noticeable. The boys get up and we hit up D’lite for a Breakfast Buzz for me, and a bagel for Jace. Then we go grocery shopping, and come home. Rob heads to Costco next and I hang home with Jace. Now as I walk around, I feel more leakage, but it’s almost unnoticeable. I don’t know if I’m imagining it. Rob gets home and after hearing my symptoms, insists I call to see if it might be my mucus plug or water breaking. I call, go over the details, and they tell us to go to the hospital to see if my membranes/ambiotic fluid had indeed ruptured. Thankfully, Rob’s Dad was on call to come over to stay with Jace. We start rushing around to get all our stuff together and for Jace, too.

12:30pm – We give Jace big hugs and kisses goodbye, telling him that we’re going to the Doctor to meet Walker, and make sure he’s all set up for his overnight adventure with Grandpa. We throw everything in the car and head to the hospital. We found a parking spot right up front, too (huge win since most couples have to valet!)

1:00pm – They check us in and get us into triage. As I’m sitting on the bed, talking with the triage nurse after she takes a quick sample, more water comes out, if you know what I mean. 10 minutes later and the test comes back that yes, my water had broken, and even more just on the bed! The friendly nurse quickly gets our Doctor on the phone for the game plan and gets my IV in, and so on. We make the call to Rob’s Dad that we’re offiically in labor. Consequentially, my contractions seems to kick in a little bit more, like slight period cramps. The memories from my first labor with Jace come flooding back! This is good — things are moving!

2:00pm – They move me into the labor room and get me all situated for pitocin. Doctor wanted me to have just a little bit to keep things moving. It doesn’t take much, that’s for sure.  By 3:00pm, my contractions go from almost nothing to something.

3:30pm – Contractions are now just minutes apart. Maybe 2-3 minutes apart? To the point where I’m rocking back and forth. I don’t want to sit. I have to pee a lot. I’m rubbing my own tail-bone at this point, because I’m annoyed wtih Rob trying to do it right, hahaha. I close my eyes. I stand up and try to breathe. The nurse checks me and I’m 5cm dilated. I tell the nurse I’m ready for the epidural. Of course before they can administer it I have to get extra fluids. Another 45 minutes go by before they’re all set up. At this point (like the first time, so what was I expecting!), I have to sit still in position and not move, even through contractions. The guy is talking way too much and taking way too long, lol! Finally it’s all set, even though my right side was heavier or more numb than my left side. Whatever. Catheter is in (I HATE CATHETERS) .. and with each contraction, the baby pushes down on it, making me super uncomfortable. Time to change positions.

5:00pm – The pain from the contractions fade away and the nurse brings out the peanut ball to get my pelvis in a new position. I can still move my left leg, but definitely not my right. For some reason I’m feeling mad at Robby, hahaha. I tell him that and the sweet guy just smiles at me and thanks me for what I’m going through, says he loves me. (Yeah, yeah, I say). Within thirty minutes I feel some major cramping in my right butt cheek, which is not normal, said the nurse. I ask Rob to massage my right butt cheek and thigh, ha. It helps. The nurse comes around and checks me and immediately says “Well, we’re ready to have a baby!! You’re 10 cm.” Rob and I are both quiet and still. I look at Rob and asked him if he was OK, and if he heard what she said. Guess he was in as much shock as I was. This labor was moving so fast!! It was almost time to meet our second son! We were not mentally prepared! The nurse goes out to call our Doctor and the team and tables get all set up.

6:00pm – We have to chill for a bit, but our Doctor arrives. At this point, everything is flashing before my eyes. Guess it’s time to push!?! I still don’t feel much down there, just the major cramping in my butt. Little boy was R-E-A-D-Y! They pull out the stirrups and scoot me down, spread eagle baby! Rob is holding my left hand and left knee and eyes are wide open! They have me pull my knees back with every push, oxygen is out and on my face, ha. We wait for a contraction to come, then 1,2, 3 ..  I push down into my butt (?).

6:27pm – We go through 2 (maybe it was 3) rounds of pushing and then, boom, head is out and Walker starts crying.  Last push brings the body. Doctor maneuvers quickly with babe upside down, wiping him and gets his umbilical cord ready for Rob. He grabs the claws and snips (as the Doctor comments on how healthy of a cord it is! That’s right! I feed my babeies gooood! haha) and they quickly give him to me to put on my chest. My first words? “He’s huge!”, and the fact that I thought I was staring at Jace again! Doctor gets to work down there to get the placenta out and do some stitching (assumed, since I just pushed a 9lb baby out of my V, and within minutes!). All went well basically, I sort of don’t care about what’s going on past my mid section anymore. I let them do what they all need to do.  All I gotta say is this kid was SOLID!! And so alive and healthy, and sweet at the same time. Immediately took to the boob (another ouch!). Rob and I kiss and stare in disabelief at him, and at just what happened. I’m not tired at all, but ridiculously awake and aware. Just staring at the little boy that had been inside me for 9 months, kicking my ribs and pushing down on my pelvis. Everything was OK. It was over and he was here. And he was OK. God came through for us again, with a beautiful little boy. Thank you, God, for enabling us to create and bring life into this world. For health and love and family. It’s the best gift I could have ever asked for. My two boys, and a partner to create and live life with. Aggghh. So overwhelmed with gratitude and happiness right now. Birth is so beautiful and so is a new life. So blessed are we!

So, there you go! And here is our little brown-haired boy – Walker! IMG_3328 IMG_3330 IMG_3331 IMG_3333 IMG_3334 IMG_3336 IMG_3340 IMG_3343 IMG_3344 IMG_3346 IMG_3353 IMG_3354  IMG_3359 IMG_3361 IMG_3362 IMG_3365

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1 Comment

  • Reply Nichole April 25, 2017 at 12:33 pm

    Cheryl this is beautiful! You & Rob have a beautiful family :) Walker is absolutely perfect, he looks like his big brother Jace but with dark hair. Can’t wait to see more pictures those handsome boys you guys have!! Now, please excuse me while I go and wipe my eyes. Love you all.

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