(now that he's 8 months old)
Graham Remington Sorenson
May 8, 2013
7 lbs. 2 oz.
20 inches
Perfect!
Birth Story
At 38 weeks and 6 days pregnant I was feeling pretty ready for baby Grahams arrival, but was trying to be patient as most first babies arrive after their due dates. I also was expecting the "typical first time delivery" long labor, being sent home because I wasn't dialated enough, and it taking 1-2 hours to push the baby out. Well here is my story, nothing like I expected.
I was surprised to wake up that night at midnight to "peeing my pants" is what I said to Rem. I soon realized that my water broke! Rem was still working on painting the bathroom so he quickly cleaned up while I sat on the toilet and called the hospital. They told us to come in so I continued to pack my hospital bag when I realized I was leaking with every step I took. I didn't have any pads so I was using rags to keep from leaking everywhere. I then called my friend Bekah Smith and she came over and took Paxton for us. Then we were off!
I wasn't having any contractions, just Braxton Hicks. We first went into the OB Emergency and they just checked me to make sure my water did break, which I knew it had. Then they put in my IV, which was horrible and I got the worst bruise ever. Then they went to find me a wheelchair and came back and said they couldn't find one would I be ok to walk? I said sure, but I might leak all over your floor. Oh ya, they went and found me a wheelchair and took me over to Labor and Delivery. There they checked to see if I was dialated anymore and I was still at a 1 which was what I was at at my last doctors appointment. So they gave me something to help thin out my cervix and I went to bed. I had troubles sleeping at first and then finally I fell asleep for a few hours. In the early morning I started having a few mild contractions and around 6:30 am they came in and checked me again, I had only progressed to a 3. So they decided to start me on the pitocin and then checked me again about 3 hours later, and I was still at a 3, bummer I said. Which at that point I still was not having any major contractions. I'm pretty sure they upped my pitocin because soon after I started having horrible back contractions and I was having Rem massage my back every time they came. I was wanting to hold out as long as I could before I got the epidural, but I knew I wanted one so I thought I might as well get one now so I can relax.
The epidural was not the most pleasant experience, I was sweating like no other and having my back contractions on top of that all while trying to stay relaxed while they put the needle in. Finally it was done and I was expecting the epidural to help me relax so I could try and get some sleep. I did feel my legs go numb and my back contractions went away, but I never was fully relaxed. I started to feel the contractions down really low and asked the nurse if I should be feeling that. I think she thought that I was crazy and there was no way I was already feeling that (this is her first time having a baby), because she never really gave me an answer. Then every time I was feeling those contractions I felt like I had to push. I told Rem and he said I don't think you're supposed to be pushing yet, and I said "I can't help it". Rem then told the nurse that I was starting to push, so she then said she would go get someone to check me. They came in and sure enough I was at a 10, ready to have this baby. I had gone from a 3 to a 10 in two hours! That was a shock to me.
They started to set everything up to get ready for me to push, meanwhile we were calling my parents and my sister Jamie to hurry and get here as fast as possible. My parents made it just in time for me to start really pushing. I was expecting to have to push for quite a long time so I thought my sister (who lives an hour away) would make it in time. The nurse and Rem were on each side of me helping me out. Normally the monitors pick up when your contractions start and the nurse will tell you when to push, well my monitors were not picking them up, but that didn't matter because I could still feel everything. I had to tell them when I felt a contraction coming. Well to my surprise, I only pushed for a half hour and he was out! I didn't believe Rem when he told me I only had two more pushes. Rem cut the umbilical cord and the nurse brought baby Graham up for me to hold, I couldn't believe it, this little guy just came out of me. What an amazing and wonderful experience it was, words cannot even express the feeling. I instantly felt so much love for Graham!
I was so glad that they let me hold him through the whole time while I delivered the placenta and got stitched up because I could pretty much feel it all and holding Graham made it less painful than it could have been. I'm still really glad I got the epidural because I think it probably took the edge off and I think it helped my body to relax enough to help the progression. Even though things were painful and I wanted to punch my doctor in the face and yell at him to get his hands out of there, I am really glad that I got to feel things too and feel Graham come out (I may even go natural with the next baby)! It was so great to have Rem there by my side and he did so awesome and held my hand when I needed it, I'm glad he got to experience seeing Graham come out. I got to see Paxton when he was born come out and cut his umbilical cord and what an amazing experience it was for me, so I know the feeling. I'm so glad my parents were able to be there, I love them so much and was grateful to have their support and to be able to share this experience with them. I wanted Jamie to be there too, but she had a long drive and missed it by about ten minutes, she was really sad. My doctor, Dr. Sharp and nurse, Sue were really surprised on how fast I delivered, they were saying that I better get to the hospital really fast with my next baby because things will go a lot faster than the first time. I feel so lucky to have had such a great experience. The next couple of days in the hospital went really well and I just loved holding, cuddling and staring at my sweet little baby Graham and I couldn't wait to introduce him to his big brother, Paxton.
