Baby #3's Birth Story: Dayton James

On Saturday July 3rd around 930pm David & I had my mom come over and we headed down to L&D with our bags in tow. I wasnt sure of my progress but was determined to have time for pain management as well as a 4th of July baby.

They hooked me up to the monitor to learn that I was contracting every 8 minutes but was only dilated to 2cm & 50% effaced. After about an hour and half they sent me home.

That next morning I tried several self-induction techniques including but not limited to: bouncing on my yoga ball, a brisk walk, a ride in the mustang, walked some more and bounced some more.

Around 130pm I told David we should go down to L&D again. He agreed and we left the girls with my mom & brother. I was pretty sure we would be sent home again but figured it was worth a try.

Ive said this a million times, and I know its probably getting annoying, but I labor very fast. My first delivery was 4.5 hours and second was around 3.5 hours. This time I was determined to get a head start and have a chance to 'manage' my pain. I wasnt convinced that I wanted to go natural this time around, though I had with the previous two.

So heres how the day went:

130pm - Checked in stating I was in labor, was hooked up to the monitors & told I was contracting every 4 minutes and was now 4cm dilated. .... 4CM?.?!? At that moment, I knew they would keep me. My OB turned to the charge nurse and told her "We're having a baby today!" They continued to monitor me while we waited on antibiotics for GBS.

Our room couldnt have had a better view for the fireworks show to come! I couldnt believe it ~ I had planned for exactly this!

330pm - Being GBS+ I was hooked up to the antibiotics. David & I sat and chatted and watched tv. It was the complete and polar opposite of the last delivery. While I could feel the contractions I wouldnt have rated them as anything more than slightly uncomfortable.

I filled out the paperwork for the epidural and told the nurse that I would let her know when I was ready for it. Like I said, I was not committed this time to a natural birth - in fact, I felt like pain management in the form of an epidural sounded dreamy. That pain - that FIREY pain - was still very fresh in my mind from Brooklyns birth.

5pm - My OB came back in and broke my water. Within minutes my contractions increased in intensity, although they were still managable.

530pm - My OB ordered the nurses to start pitocin.

6pm - By this time my contractions started coming on much stronger. I had to breathe deeply through each contraction. David helped me monitor when one was coming and ending. He rubbed my legs and reminded me to focus on Strawberry Pancakes. Sounds absolutely ridiculous but, what can I say, Im motivated by food. He also reminded me of sweet things our girls do that make me smile. Like when Im trying to discipline Brooklyn and she says "HI MAMA!" with a sweet little smile or how happy Kalina gets when we say yes to swimming!

This labor was entirely different than the other two. I felt like I was able to concentrate on getting through each contraction. I was able to breathe and let my body do what it was trying to do. I didnt fight the pain - I let each contraction do the work it was trying to do. This feel ridiculous to type but I felt like each contraction was purposeful - where as with Brooklyn I felt like I wanted to get as far out of my body as possible.

630pm - I was now contracting every 2.5 minutes and they were quite strong. I didnt want to hear David talking, didnt want to be touched - I could only breathe deeply and visualize the pancakes. ;0) (seems funny to me now - but it was no laughing matter at the time).

Between contractions I asked the nurse if she would check me. David & I had a plan - If I was at least 6-7cm I would get the epi. Otherwise I would continue to labor for a while longer. The nurse informed me that they were getting ready to do a shift change and that the new nurse would check me at 7pm.

645pm - My mom showed up sooner than expected. She was going to come after putting Brooklyn to sleep at 7pm. Apparently David texted her telling her to come ASAP. Hes a smart man, I tell ya.

She asked if they had checked me - which they still had not due to the shift change.

~655pm - With that next contraction I felt tremendous pain and a gush of fluids. I was certain the baby was coming and quickly at that. The pressure was intense to put it lightly and I grabbed the handles on the bed. This pain was all too familiar.

David ran out of the room to alert the nurses and my mom came close to me to remind me to breathe. Several nurses ran in - one checked me and confirmed that I was completely dilated and at a +2 station. I knew what this meant; this meant that it was already time to push. Which also meant - no time for epidural.

"What>@?! How did this happen??" I thought. "It cant be ... can it!? OOOOHHHHH SH****"

Although I was technically contracting when I arrived I wouldnt say labor started until 5 or even 530 when the pitocin was started. I couldnt fathom a 2 hour birth.

The nurses were swirling around me breaking down the bed and setting everything up. My husband and mother were on each side of me saying everything I needed to hear, reminding me to breathe, telling me I could do it.

Then my OB walked back in and told me, "Listen to me Jessica - don't scream. This is what youre going to do: Hold your breath like youre going under water, tuck your chin and push."

711pm - I did just that and felt the entire birth of my son - I felt every bit of it with one contraction and 2 pushes he was delivered. It was the worst, but shortest, most purposeful pain Ive ever felt in my entire life. He was perfect, he was warm, ... he is amazing. An absolute gift from God.

Ten fingers, ten toes and mine, all mine. :)

When I realized they were really checking me in:

Successful Delivery #2 (#3 for me):

Gramma & Big Sis:

Strawberry Pancakes (I wasnt joking):

The window we watch fireworks from after the delivery: