Just like the other 2, I wanted to get William's birth story up before every little detail was forgotten! These pictures are not edited in the slightest as I simply don't have time but they'll do for now!
We arrived to Texas Health Harris Methodist Alliance Hospital at 7am on March 29th (39w) after enjoying a Whataburger breakfast in the car. We were immediately checked in and brought to the labor and delivery room where we’d see your little face at some point that day! It was a bit emotional for mommy when the nurse said I wouldn’t be roaming the halls and would be hooked up to the machine but your daddy assured me we would have plenty of room to walk around and labor in. That nurse left and a bit later the nurse we would have all day came in to get things going like my IV in. Her name was Ronica (Roni) and she was an absolute angel. She is very pro-natural and completely was a saint that day helping me make decisions with my doula and keeping the doc away from unnecessary checks! Come to find out, my OB isn’t the most pro-natural birth OB and is pretty rigid and structured on births not really concerned about what the mother wants.
By 8am I had the IV in and by 8:30 Pitocin was started. Normally docs start at 4ml which is probably what I had with the other 2 but she started me at just 1ml to ease me into things. I was still only 4 cm at that point and you very high with tons of fluid. At 9am we increased the Pitocin to 2ml as I wasn’t feeling anything and then by 9:40 it was increased again to 3ml. I was only feeling tightening in my belly and really not much pain at all. At 10am Lindsay my doula arrived with her bag of helpful items and a smile on her face. By 10:30 I’m up to 4ml of Pitocin and lunging on both sides, squatting and sitting on the toilet and birthing ball per Lindsay’s suggestions. Roni also striped my membranes and then we pumped for about 20 minutes to try and stimulate labor. At 11:20 Dr. White came in to break my water and I laid on my back for about 20 minutes to allow the fluid to come out. There was TONS!! Labor still wasn’t that bad but I concentrated on now allowing my brain to even think it was bad. It was about 12:45pm when the contractions started becoming more intense and were about every 2-3 minutes. Lindsay noted that my demeanor was changing and Dr. White checked me again to find that I’m 6cm. I was leaning over the bed when they hit and daddy was right there holding my hands. Lindsay also held a rice sock on my belly and was VERY good about saying the right words. At 1:15 Dr. White wanted me to be checked again but I declined based on Roni and Lindsay’s recommendations and go back to laboring on the toilet, doing lunges and being on hands and knees. The rice sock Lindsay held on my belly felt SO good and daddy was stroking my hair. I try to listen to music in my ears but rip out the ear buds after one contraction as it didn’t help at ALL. Ha!
At 1:45 my parents arrived with Ady and although she was very skeptical and nervous in the room she gave me a big hug. They only stayed for about 10 minutes and that’s when things really picked up. At 2pm I was 8cm and the contractions were pretty miserable. The first 10 seconds of each contraction was absolute hell and it was as if my body completely tensed up and made it very hard to breath effectively. I did have to push negative thoughts out of my head and concentrate on you but by this time I also am beyond exhausted. I would almost fall asleep between contractions and quite frankly didn’t know much in me I had left. Hands and knees feels the best and at 2:30 Dr. White comes in and wants me on my back. It was the ONE position I didn’t want to be in so I was pretty upset but your heart rate was a little low and he said I NEED to get on my back. He mentioned I was almost fully ready after a check, but the baby was low and I begin pushing after listening to my body and feeling like I need to. Lindsay was on one side and Derek was on the other both very encouraging and helping me breath as much as I could. I push for only 11 minutes per Roni’s chart but it felt like forever and definitely felt the "ring of fire" when your head was coming through. I remember in between one contraction looking around and there were probably 12 people in the room staring at me. Dr. White thought you’d be so big that he had extra hands on deck to help out just in case.
Finally, at 2:44pm you were born screaming and immediately placed on my chest while the placenta was birthed (felt SO damn good) and you were checked. I didn’t tear at all which was so awesome and you latched on only 15 minutes later nursing like a champ. Daddy didn’t cut the cord as he didn’t with your brother and sister and is superstitious about it. You were absolutely perfect. Gorgeous face with beautiful hair and a purple, adorable little body. All family was notified and the nurses took you a while later to get weighed in at 8 pounds 8 ounces and 20 inches long. I honestly couldn’t believe you weren’t even 9 pounds after all those estimations. But you were still absolutely perfect and looked SO much like your brother. We still weren’t set on a name.
It was about an hour later when Gramma and Poppa came up with Drew and Ady to meet you. I was on cloud nine and the exhaustion had completely melted away and the kids were in HEAVEN seeing your little face. I was sitting up in bed and so beyond thankful that my body worked for me and I didn’t have to endure a spinal headache. My bleeding was a bit high and Roni did give me a sidetec to help that but it worked out and never elevated to a dangerous level. We eventually moved to the recovery room and relaxed with a yummy dinner. You continued to nurse like a champ and we FaceTimed with family members so everyone could see your little face. The next morning, we both knew that your name would be William Ryan. It was absolutely perfect for you. Your brother and sister both came the next day and were SO excited to hold you. You are going to be one loved little boy my prince.
