New Addition

 

Judah Matthew

6 lbs 5 oz., 19.5 inches

born 3/1/10 at 1:48 am

Just wanted to make record of our newest addition to our family. Micah is doing great as a big brother. He likes to poke, but also loves to give kisses. And thus far, he is continuing with his great ability to take good naps during the day and sleep all night! Praise God!

I would not normally be one to talk about a birthing experience, but to me, this was a great experience that totally showed us how good God is and how blessed we truly are!

My first pregnancy had a few complications toward the end, enough so that I was put on bed rest around week 35 and was sent to the hospital twice before I actually delivered Micah. I had high blood pressure and double vision, and I dilated quite early without any other signs of labor. Because of being 7 cm dilated at 37 weeks (and the other stuff I was dealing with) I was once again sent to the hospital. This time, since my body was virtually ready, my water was broken for me to get the process started. After a few hours I started having hard contractions, and after a few more hours I started pushing, and within and hour I had Micah. All told, it was about 12 hours from when my water was broken to when I actually delivered. In a very controlled environment...therefore I had no idea what to expect this time with Judah...

I didn't dilate quite as much quite as early, and I wasn't having real contractions (at least that I could tell) and my doctor was quite nonchalant about the timing. I was a little more worried since I delivered early with Micah (and in such a controlled way), so my doc measured me at almost 38 weeks and I was 4 cm and "thinning" and he finally sounded a little more serious and said "I wouldn't waste any time getting to the hospital once you think this guy is coming."

And God couldn't have made the timing of everything happen any better! I had been out and about most of Saturday, and almost all of Sunday, no where near the hospital and not near my husband for much of this time. Then he was out Sunday evening until about 10pm. We went to bed around 11:30, and although I don't think I fully fell asleep (since it is hard to get good sleep at this stage in pregnancy) I woke fully around 12:30 thinking that I was maybe feeling a contraction but not sure. I went to the bathroom and thought that my water had possibly broken, but it wasn't a gush, so I still wasn't sure...maybe I was just having more problems holding in my bladder...

Since I thought maybe it was a contraction and maybe my water broke, I started to watch the clock. When I did, I thought maybe I was having contractions at about 5-7 minute intervals, but still wasn't sure. I didn't want to wake my husband since he was sleeping so well, but needed help with the timing and knowing if it might be real.

I woke him at 12:45am. He started getting dressed, found his phone, made a few phone calls, waited for a call back for someone that could come stay with Micah, and was helping me watch the clock. He seemed more concerned about getting someone to the house as soon as possible (a good thing knowing how the timing ended up). We got through to a friend (who always turns he and his wife's phones off, but forgot that night, praise God!) who was already dressed, jumped in the car and headed to our house. We also got through to my mom, who was going to come stay with Micah, but was coming from further away (why we needed the friend to come wait for her with Micah in the house). 

Our friend arrived shortly after 1am and we walked (me, painfully walked) out the door as he walked in. We drove to the hospital and kept trying to count the time between contractions. This was hard for me as it seemed the time kept getting closer together instead of staying consistent, so I thought maybe I was doing something wrong...I remember seeing the clock in the car say 1:20 when we pulled into the parking garage. We walked in, got on the elevator and I crouched in pain. We buzzed the maternity ward, she nonchalantly found my paperwork and asked why I was there (as I crouched again in pain!). Didn't my husband just tell you? I am HAVING a baby! She opened the door and started walking down the hall (who knows how far she was planning on going down the hall!!) but as I crouched again from the pain she decided she would let us into a closer room. Gee, thanks! She slowly got me a gown and told me what to do. Luckily my husband helped with all the clothing changes and such, because I was becoming no use at this point. I finally got in a bed and buzzed that I was in the bed...then someone casually walked in to be our nurse. She started asking questions and getting the equipment on me to monitor heart rate and contractions. My husband asked if I could get pain medicine, but I don't think she thought I was for real and she said they had to take care of some things first. Then she measured me. 8 cm! Whoa! She got serious then! She called down that I needed to be admitted and that I needed the pain IV. There was lots of confusion, I guess the intercoms weren't working well or something because she had to repeat herself a few times and then still had to send someone back for what she was really asking for. All the while, my contractions are getting more painful and much closer together! Ouch! Where are the meds??

The lady finally arrived with the IV, cleaned my arm, said it would pinch and then burn. And it did. But just about that same time, I also told everyone that there was too much pressure and I needed to push!! I was a bit preoccupied with my own pain, but my hubby said they all looked at each other like "oh no! get the doc!" and then started scrambling. They were telling me to stop pushing since they wanted to wait for the doc. Yeah right! But I got confused, so I did. But then the doc was there and he was like "you need to push to get his shoulders out or he is not going to breathe!" Oh, I was so confused...ok, so I can push now? So one more push (yep, 2 pushes total) and the little guy was out. And my husband's like "Ang, you just had a baby! It's done!" 1:48am. Less than 90 minutes from when I woke up thinking I was having contractions and maybe my water broke.

Well, thank God, because I never got those pain meds and it hurt! I heard him cry, got the rest of the gunk out of me and then got to hold my baby. What a great experience! I was so doped up on pain meds with Micah that I didn't get that experience (or not as a memorable once since I was so unaware of the world at that point!).

My husband  called my mom and she was still on the way to our house! Thank God we got a friend to come by. Thank God he left his phone on and made it as fast as he did, and we live as close as we do to the hospital, and it wasn't when I was out all day or hubby was not home with me, and on and on, oh the MANY reasons to praise God. And it was FAST! 

Unfortunately for Judah, it was so fast that it bruised his little face for a few days. He was purple, but healthy! Thank God for Judah Matthew.

 

Micah's first visit with grandma to meet his little brother, Judah.