Our Birth Story

This was our plan...Jed started his vacation time December 8th, he wanted a few days to get things done and I had a final on the 10th...so we planned to finish my final on the 10th and then go to my work Christmas party so I could dance like crazy and we hoped that would induce labor so Jed didn't have to waste all of his vacation time at home alone...

To our surprise it actually worked!

Sunday morning I started having contractions, they continued to get closer together and finally that night at 11:30pm we decided to go into the hospital to get checked. I wasn't in such a hurry, the contractions were uncomfortable but not severe, I just didn't want to be one of those women that wait too long then are holding the baby's head in while they rush to the maternity ward. When we checked in I was only dilated to a 2, in an hour I progressed to a 3 so they kept us for a few more hours to see if I would go any further. They had me walk for a couple hours and I wasn't prepared for that and only had my big snow boots on, it wasn't very comfortable--and it led to nothing they release us around 4am. I continued to have contractions but they seemed to calm down. Monday Jed and I decided we needed to go walk and run some errands. We walked Costco for more than 2 hours, got some Christmas shopping done. The contractions didn't stop but slowed down. I figured nothing would happen and it would stop and in a few weeks I would actually go into labor.

So that night I got up to go to the bathroom and my water broke...but I wasn't totally convinced that it broke so I tried to go back to bed for a while. I let Jed sleep for a few hours and then woke him up and calmly said "hey babe, my water broke"---I've decided those word make men panic...Jed didn't exactly panic but was wide awake and ready to go in a matter of minutes.
Getting to the hospital and getting checked in was a little easier than the previous night, because my water broke I had the golden ticket. But things didn't go much faster after that, they made us walk for hours I walked the halls at Providence hospital...until the pain got to be severe enough that I didn't want to be out having people watch me.

By the way

Labor is painful!

I started to get really weepy and cried really hard a few times. Poor Jed didn't know what to do but was really supportive and tried to help.

After ten hours of walking and active labor I had only dilated to a 6 and they said they were going to have to give me Pitocin...that is when I decided I needed something for the pain. They suggested taking something to take the edge off, I should have just asked for the epidural but I took the medication and instantly it completely knocked me out. I was so loopy and it didn't help with the pain, it made me feel sick and I started to hallucinate the room had changed into a gingerbread house/land with royal icing and peppermint swirl fields...It was not good!-- and still it didn't help the pain.
I cried and begged for the epidural after only a few minutes. Just when I thought I couldn't do it any longer the anesthesiologist walked through the door.

I love him & the Epidural!

Unfortunately because I took that pain medication it made me & baby's heart rate drop really low, they had to stop the pitocin and give me oxygen. They scared us by saying that I may have to have a c-section if it continued. But as that other med started wearing off, our heart rates went back up. Once I was dilated to a 10 I pushed for an hour
&
Elliot Thomas Jones
made his appearance.

Child birth is nothing like anyone tells you...it was so surreal. We were pretty relaxed, we had casual conversation in between contractions and pushing...it was weird

....Child birth is just weird.

Jed didn't plan on watching it, but I really don't know how you can avoid seeing it, I was worried that he was going to get all wigged out or sick but he was awesome and said it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be.

First moments with Elliot
Jed got to cut the cord and help give him the first bath. Elliot did not like having his hair washed at all!
The nurse above was one of Jed's friends--they worked together several years ago. I met her for the first time when we were admitted...then we got to know each other very very well in a short period of time. Closer than any of my other friends have ever seen me! She was very nice and I think helped Jed relax. She said that if he passed out she would make fun of him for the rest of his life.

Elliot cried the first night non-stop and we were all exhausted...the mother baby unit at Providence was not that great. The nurse didn't introduce herself, and after we called for help she didn't come for an hour or longer...by that time I was in tears and so exhausted I couldn't stand it. They took him to the nursery which we didn't even know was an option...but isn't that the point of being in the hospital (besides the whole observation of our health and stuff) but to get a good rest before going home. We got to sleep for three hours and it made a huge difference.
His feet seem so big and long to me, I guess in comparison to his body...they still look really small in this photo.

Our first family photo.

Since being home things have gotten much better. He is doing well (for the most part) with breast feeding. It is so nice to have Jed around! Jed has been so helpful and it's great bonding time for them. Jed doesn't have to go back to work until the 2nd of January we are so glad he is around, because we would probably go insane.




Well stay tuned because there will be lots of updates about our little Paco!