It's 12:32 am and I need to type this out while I can! Sawyer is asleep on my lap. He is four days old...already! It's going by too fast! :)
So here is his birth story:
Tom moved to Arizona to start his new job with University of Phoenix at the beginning of July, so we decided with my midwife to induce me so Tom could be there for the birth. He flew in Friday, July 15th and we went on a family date to Mikados for sushi. We had a great time and were so happy to see each other after two weeks of being apart. Tom bought me a new ipod so I could listen to my hypnobaby cds while in labor. My original ipod fell in the toilet, so I was really glad to have a new one.
I didn't get a whole lot of sleep that night because I was nervous for the next day. I listened to a hypnobirth cd to calm down and relax. The first couple of months of the pregnancy I was planning on going natural (what was I thinking?!) for some weird reason, and borrowed some hypnobabies cds from a friend that went natural. I started listening to them even though I had changed my mind, and I'm really glad I did because it helped me to relax and think of giving birth as something that didn't have to be scary or too painful if I had the right mindset and relaxation techniques in place.
The next morning I called at 6am to see if they had a spot for me. They told me to call back at 8 am. I couldn't sleep so I played around on my computer for about an hour and half then fell asleep again. When I called they said to come on in. Oh boy, this was it! It didn't feel real. I couldn't believe I was about to give birth and finally meet the little critter that had been kicking around in my stomach for the last nine months. I was ready though! I had been so uncomfortable for the last month or so and was ready to not be pregnant anymore.
So we headed off to the hospital, with plans for Mae to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa Johnson that day.
We got to the hospital and our room was really nice. Big with a TV and a couch. It was like a suite.
My midwife couldn't be there, it was her day off, but I really really liked the midwife that took Sandaes place. Her name was Jennifer Sorensen. She was young and so nice, and was there the whole time and checked in on me often. They hooked me up to the machine to monitor my heartbeat and the babies. I had to pee about every 20 minutes and it got so annoying unhooking myself and dragging he IV pole into the bathroom so much! They started me on the pitocin around 11:00. I barely even felt the contractions. I listened to my ipod and the hypnobabies birth day cd. I was very relaxed and out of it and it was awesome. After a couple of hours, they came in and broke my water. The baby had pooped in the birth canal so there was a greenish tinge in my water. They said it wasn't a dangerous amount, but they would have a respiratory specialist there when he was born to make sure it hadn't been ingested by the baby. As soon as my water broke, I asked for the epidural. My contractions had only been as bad as period cramps, and I hardly even noticed them. It was great! I decided to get the epidural then, because I might as well feel as little pain as possible.
The guy that did my epidural did a great job, unlike the last time. When I had Mae it was really painful. This time it was a little uncomfortable, but for the most part, I was fine. Tom even watched the whole thing! I was so proud of him :)
After I got the epidural we watched "Twister". It was just so relaxing, and I didn't have any side effects from the epidural, like I did the first time. The first time I had the shakes really badly and it just made me sooo tired.
Tom called my mom and she and Elise showed up. We played a couple of rounds of bananagrams, and then I decided to rest.
The midwife and nurse came in to check my progress a couple of times, and I want to say around 5:45 or so I was dialated to a 7. Within 15 minutes I was a ten and ready to deliver! It went by so fast. I pushed for 15-20 minutes and out he came! I remember at one point I said,"Get out, you stinker!" Tom got to cut the umbilical chord this time, too.
I had so much more energy and strength to push this time around. I can't believe I did that for 2 whole hours with Mae! Sawyer was born at 6:19 PM, Saturday July 16th 2011.
Elise peaked her head around the curtain to watch the final pushes, and I'm glad she did. although it's messy and not the most beautiful sight, it is such a miracle and amazing to watch!
So it was about 7 hours of labor. Not bad at all! He started crying and I thought it was the cutest sound I'd ever heard. They took him right to the respiratory specialist so he could check him, then they did all the other stuff, cleaning and everything while I pushed the placenta out.
I remember being almost annoyed, hearing everyone behind the curtain oohing and ahhhing over Sawyer, and I was thinking, "Why does everyone else get to hang out with him?! I just did all the work!" :)
I didn't get an episiotomy, and only tore a tiny bit. As Jenny stitched me up, which I also didn't feel this time (once again, with Mae it hurt really bad) they finally brought Sawyer over and we put him right on my skin. It was the most beautiful feeling ever! I of course cried and held him and couldn't believe this tiny miracle was finally here. I looked over and Elise was crying. It was really cute :)
Everyone else came to visit and see him, and Tom was able to stay until Sunday night. We all cried when he left, but I am glad he was able to be there for the birth. It was amazing and I am so grateful to have this sweet little guy in our lives!