I can't believe I'm writing another birth story. We are SO blessed!
My due date wasn't until 11/1/11, so I was quite surprised when I started having some contractions early in the morning on October 22. This was an exceptionally special day, not only because we were adding a beautiful addition to our family, but also because it was the birthday of Jalon's mom, Louanne. Louanne died of breast cancer December 18, 1998 - before knowing any of her precious grand-babies. She was an AMAZING woman, to say the least. She was loving, inspiring, and CRAZY about her family.
My first contraction was around 3:30 am, and was quite strong. The contractions were not very regular, but they were close and HARD. Dr. French had recommended we go to the hospital once contractions got started because baby Mac was SO LOW. (I had been feeling for days like his head might very well pop out with a sneeze.) So at about 6 am, we decided to head over to the hospital. The big brothers were still in bed, so Papa came over to be with them, and take care of them for the first day/night we would be away.
All settled in, they checked me and I was only 2 cm... this was a bit embarrassing, as I was hoping to be more progressed than this. Plus as you might recall from this story, 2 is the worst number IN THE WORLD. But I didn't stay at 2cm for long this time. I quickly progressed to 3cm, 4cm... Dr. French came and asked if I wanted him to break my water, WHICH I didn't - at least not until I got my (blessed-of-the-Lord) epidural. So I got my sweet-nectar-of-heaven epidural, without complication, and continued to progress to about 6 cm. I rested and slept. Jalon was SO funny during this process. He kept me laughing the entire time. We joked that my belly jiggled like Santa - and we figured this helped the contractions somehow. Rachel and Becky were there with us. Becky was a trooper, rubbing my head, arms, back... doing whatever my whim asked, making me comfortable. Dr. French came back and broke my water, and then he went home. A small detail that will come into play later...
At this point, I got kinda "stuck" at 6.5 cm. They started some pitocin, and we waited. Needles to say, the pitocin did its job... I progressed quickly and soon there was that familiar "pressure" that indicated something was happening :) - the nurse checked me and I was 10 cm and his head was easily felt. Dr. French was called, and had to come from home. I asked the nurse where he lived, and she said, "Zalesky" - and I thought she said "Alaska" - which is what I was beginning to feel! It seemed like he was coming from Alaska! I was ready to push, and they were asking me to "blow off the contractions" - haha. Easier said than done. But Dr. French did make it, and at the next contraction I pushed out his little head (incidentally, Mac started crying when only his head was out, crazy!) and I asked if I could push again with the same contraction - and I pushed out the rest of his sweet little body! Once again, I pride myself in being a CHAMPION pusher. Hey, it's the small victories. They put him on my chest, and let me have him there for a VERY long time, like close to an hour. It was amazing. We weren't rushed to have the hospital "rituals" done - we snuggled, and he nursed right away - he was also a CHAMPION.
McKale William Peters (aka Mac)
Born October 22, 2011 @ 3:06 pm
7 lbs 2 oz19 inches
My favorite baby part?
His little shins, so skinny. Little bird legs.
AND the palms of his hands -
SO soft, the softest things you've ever felt in your life.
The next day the big brothers got to come into the hospital and see our new family member. It was such a special and memorable time. They were THRILLED and so loving and excited.
McKale means "Who is like our God?"
