Davis Lee's Birth Story

I was scheduled to be induced January 2. Due to the size of my babies, my doctor thought it best to induce even just a few days early to avoid a 10 pound nugget again. My parents flew in the afternoon of the 31st and it was nice having a few days before baby to spend time with them and have help with the boys.

Bright and early Wednesday morning, we dropped the boys off at daycare and we all went to the hospital. Excited and nervous all in one, together we geared up for my historically long labors. After getting hooked up to IV's and getting blood drawn, the nurse wanted to check one more time to be sure baby was still head down. He had been pretty active on the fetal monitor and she seemed unsure that he was where he should be. My doctor came in with a vintage sono machine and sure enough, he had flipped in the last few days and was now breeched. How could that be? There's no room left! She talked options -- I would be given the epidural and she and another doctor could try to manually flip him around. This could cause stress to the baby and my placenta was high and there was a possibility of complications. The other option was a c-section. Liam had to be manually flipped and it was an excruciating process and there was still no guarantee that it would work and I would still have to have an emergency c-section. She said we could talk about it but I already knew what I wanted to do. I could have the c-section in 3 hours and be done with it. Having labored for a minimum of 36 hours AFTER being induced with my other two children, I knew it would still be a long time if I were to have him vaginally. I just didn't think I had the energy for it. A c-section was decided.

Thankfully I hadn't eaten breakfast that morning. I NEVER skip meals because I get incredibly nauseous but I ran out of time that morning which turned out to be miraculous because that meant they could schedule the surgery sooner rather than later.

Time and hunger pains rumbled on and before I knew it, Thomas was getting his scrubs on and I was walked with the anesthesiologist to the OR. Though I've never had surgery or spent any time in a hospital, I was surprisingly calm for such a drastic turn of events. The room was cold and as I sat on the edge of the hard operating table, I felt my legs get warm and fuzzy. I was laid back, given oxygen, arms strapped down, and before I knew it Thomas and a half dozen doctors flooded the room. Suddenly I was thankful for the sheet between me and my uterus. I recognized my doctor's face and she peeked over the top of the sheet and said, "You ready?"

There were moments I thought I wouldn't be able to lay on my back that long. At times, it felt like I was suffocating but I was grateful for Thomas' face, right beside mine rubbing my head. He asked if he could stand and watch and the doctors all gave an enthusiastic YES. After one last check, there was this fun fact: baby had flipped and he was head down again! I didn't even know it was possible for all that flipping at 39 weeks.

There was a....smell....that entered the room and I looked at Thomas' face and I knew they had started. He was suddenly white as a sheet. 10 minutes in and there was a lot of pressure and then a big relief of weight and he was here! His tiny face popped up and I instantly fell in love. Thomas walked with him over to the table to get him checked out and I could hear the nurses ask Thomas if he was ok. That seemed strange. They walked him back over to where I was and I looked up at him and he was ghostly white and sweating. He'd seen too much. The emotions of seeing your wife open on the table and your new baby can be a bit overwhelming I guess. 😉 They gave him juice and oxygen and he was back to normal after several moments. It's fun to always have that on him. Pansy. Ha.

Davis Lee arrived January 2 at 12:32 PM our smallest yet, at 8 pounds 10 ounces. He was 20 3/4 inches long and seemed like a peanut compared to the boys. He took to nursing instantly, like within one minute, and only lost 4% of his body weight in the hospital. After his pediatrician appointment, he gained it all back and is 8 pounds 12 ounces. This kid is a champion.

If I think about it too much, three boys seems daunting and smelly and loud and testeroney. But it also sounds wonderful and sweet and I wouldn't trade it. I'm so glad they're mine.

He's Here!

Our new little bundle joined us just a few days ago and our lives have felt so enriched. Though tired and adjusting to life as a family of four, it has been a joyful first week.

Caleb Hendrick was born Tuesday, April 4 at 6:28AM weighing 10 lbs, 1 oz and 21 inches long. 6 days before his due date. I was scheduled early Monday morning to be induced but as luck would have it, it got pushed back to 1pm due to lack of rooms. After checking in, I was given Pitocin pretty quickly. My doctor thankfully knew Liam's birth story and wasn't willing to prolong labor any longer than necessary. So thankful for her. 😉

When I checked in, I was already dilated to 3 centimeters and I was hoping that would quicken labor. It took about 13 hours to progress much past 3.5 centimeters. Though contractions were regular, they weren't intense enough. Thankfully I had been given an epidural around 6pm so I mostly battled boredom. My mom, Rick, Thomas and I spent most of the day watching HGTV and Criminal Minds and chatted. I consumed cherry popsicles and ice chips like no tomorrow.

My mom and Thomas were in the room the entire night, both sleeping. I slept about 20 minutes at a time usually waking up to my blood pressure cuff sucking the life out of my arm or a nurse coming in. I had moments where I felt great and didn't feel a need to sleep and others where nausea would hit and would randomly throw up.

Close to 2am, the epidural seemed to not be having much of an effect. I was in excruciating pain. Contractions were coming every minute, minute and a half. The anesthesiologist came to pump more medicine and for a brief hour and a half, the pain seemed manageable again.

I slept for about an hour and suddenly woke up to PAIN. The night nurse came in, checked me and saw I was still only at 4 cm. She was calm and said if I needed anything to let her know. It was probably just pressure that I was feeling. This did not just feel like pressure and she was not understanding. My mom had woken up at this point and saw the look on my face and knew I wasn't doing well. Less than two minutes after the nurse left, I called her back in and said that my pain level was literally at a 10. She checked me again and I was 7cm. Within two minutes I had gone from 4cm to 7cm. I wanted to scream. Side note: when I am in unbearable pain I am silent. I literally do not utter a word. Do not touch me, do not talk to me.

I looked over at Thomas who was still sound asleep and yelled with tears rolling down my face, WHY IN THE WORLD IS HE STILL ASLEEP?!?!?! I also apparently get really mad when I'm in pain.

The nurse called the anesthesiologist back in the room and that's when I knew I was justified. As if a woman in labor needs any sort of justification for her pain level.

Why is she in this much pain? she exclaimed. She was given an epidural! You (nurse) should have called me an hour ago! Unacceptable.

God bless her.

Though the pain "lessened" I knew push time was rapidly approaching.

My doctor came in and seeing her familiar face was a relief. I heard her say I was at 9.5 cm and we literally all watched the contraction monitor waiting for the right moment to push. I pushed a few times and suddenly, 4-5 nurses filled the room, leg straddles were put in place, and my doctor was putting on what seemed like a hazmat suit.

I pushed for 8 minutes, determined to be relieved of the pain, and our boy was here. He was perfection.

We've been home for a few days now and we're settling into a new routine. Caleb is a happy boy and really only cries when he's wet, hungry or wants his pacifier. Liam has been such a help and though I worried about him being jealous, he has settled into the role of big brother beautifully. He loves to hold him and give kisses and is slowly learning that the pacifier cannot be shoved into the baby's mouth and does not want smothering hugs. It's endearing watching him love on Caleb.

Thank you so much for all your well wishes and congratulations. We have felt your love and are so encouraged by you!