Maternity Leave: Happy Birthday Ethan Thomas

The short version:
My contractions started around 5:00pm on January 31st at 15 minutes apart. I labored through the night, went to the hospital at 6:00am February 1st and Ethan was born at 8:15am! At a whopping 9 pounds 5 ounces and 21.5 inches long, the doctor announced to the family, "He's here...and he's deliciously full bodied!"

The really long version:
My estimated due date was January 31, 2012. Nobody thought I would make it to that date, but low and behold I woke up the last day in January...still pregnant.

But, the doctor wasn't too far off. In fact it was that very day that I went into labor. I had some cramping on and off all day but didn't think much of it. Starting around 4 it was getting a little bit worse, but still not anything that I was concerned about. Adam and I decided to run some errands and go out to dinner that night.
Side not: If you are in labor, do not choose the Golden Corral as your last meal. Not only was the food terrible, but with kids running and screaming all over the place I couldn't help but wonder, "What the heck are we getting ourselves into??"
I guess I should be thankful for the lesson in how not to parent.

Throughout the evening I had to periodically stop in my tracks while the pain came and went. Still thinking they were completely random, I didn't think this could be it. By the time we got home that evening Adam told me that he had been timing these "cramps" as I called them, and they had been 15 minutes apart consistently for 2 hours. We watched a movie we had rented for the night, during which we started timing the contractions together, Adam timed the length of each contraction while I kept track of the time each one began.

By bed time they were 10 minutes apart. I thought, "I'll go to sleep, wake up in the morning and they will be three minutes apart!" I know, I was delusional. I laid in bed and 2 contractions later I couldn't take it anymore. I had to get up and move around. I spent the night in every inch of our house, timing contractions and trying to escape the pain. I tried the couch, the glider, the bath tub, the living room floor, leaning up against a wall, leaning over the counter. Nothing helped to escape the discomfort. It felt like the worst cramps you have ever had, paired with a vice wrapped around your hips, trying to squeeze you until you pop. I loathe this imaginary vice.

As the night went on I decided I needed some company, so I woke Adam up from his two hour nap. He got some last minute things together, showered, watched T.V, and video taped some of my contractions. Please don't ask to watch this...it's not pretty.

Mentally I had decided ahead of time that I didn't want to go to the hospital until my contractions were down to 3 minutes apart. Throughout the night I kept playing little mental games, telling myself "Well they are three minutes apart, but now I'm going to try to wait until 5:00am to leave the house." I kept setting little goals, and once they were reached I would make another, attempting to leave at the very last possible second for the hospital. However, there came a point where I told Adam, "We have to go to the hospital now, I can't do this anymore, I just can't take it." He kindly reminded me of all of the reasons why I wanted to stay at home as long as possible. I reluctantly agreed but told him, "If I'm not at least 6 cm when we get to the hospital I'm getting the epidural" which was not the plan! But I was in pain, and again, playing little mental games with myself. This is when my "Focus Sheet" came into play. I asked a few women who I know personally and who went through natural childbirth for some advice. I wanted to be able to imagine them telling me their advice while I was actually going through the labor process. This advice helped me tremendously.



And this chicken scratch is the method I used to track the progress of my contractions.

We stayed home as long as we could. My contractions were about 2 minutes apart and Adam decided it was time! In between contractions I had enough time for Adam to put a coat on me and for me run to the car. I had a few contractions on the way to the hospital and let me tell you, contractions in a small confined car=hell!

We got to the hospital at 6am and checked into labor and delivery. I was doubled over in pain and the receptionist looks at Adam with a straight face asks, "How can I help you?"

"Umm, my wife is in labor," Adam responded as he pointed in my direction.

The receptionist looked over his shoulder and said to the doctor and nurses in the next room, "Thinks she's having labor pains."

Thinks? THINKS? There's no thinking about it buddy. This is the real deal!

The nurse put me in a room and the doctor immediately came in to check my progress. I was absolutely terrified of hearing something along the lines of "Well you are at a two you big baby so you can't be in that much pain!"
However, the next words that came out of the doctor's mouth were,
"She's at an eight!"

I swear I could have kissed her! At that point I yelled, "Oh thank God!"

I was so relieved and encouraged. This was the moment it all became a reality and I knew I could do it! From there nurses and doctors were flying in and out of the room. Asking me a millions questions, putting bracelet after bracelet on me, and prepping me for delivery. At 7:00 the doctor broke my water and about 3 minutes later it was time to push.

Adam thought that he was just going to be one of those, "stand by the bed, hold your hand, not get in on the actions" kind of supporting husbands, but as soon as it was time to push the doctor yells, "okay dad, grab a leg," and his vision of sitting on the side lines ended right there.

Pushing, well it's awful. Especially if you aren't doing it right. And let me tell you, I was terrible at it for the first hour! All it took was a little threat from the doctor, "Don't worry, most first time moms push for at least two hours" to know it was time to get this right and get this baby out! I think in my very next push after that nurse threatened another hour of pushing, Ethan shot out like a cannon ball (Adam's words).

Welcome to the world little guy! Your dad and I have anticipated this day for 9 months and we could not be happier! You are absolutely perfect! And we already love you more than words can say! We are truly blessed!



























This last photo melts my heart!

I have to say I had an amazing support team. Adam was "Super Husband!" He cheered me on and encouraged me from beginning to end. And I absolutely LOVE my doctor and the nursing staff I was assigned. They were like natural birth cheerleaders. They had faith in me the entire time and they were so awesome to work with. After moving to St. Louis I just might have to drive back to have the rest of my children!!

Ethan Thomas Lunn
Born February 1, 2012
9 pounds 5 ounces 21.5 inches long

Happy Birthday to our son! God is good!