With it being Henry’s third birthday today, I figured it’s
only right to tell the tale of his birth (I’ll leave out the gory details). My
pregnancy was pretty routine except that he was breech up until the bitter end.
I lived in denial and continued to tell my OB that he would flip on his own
(that’s what babies do, right?). It finally got to the point where the doctor
made me (basically by holding a gun to my head) either schedule an external cephalic
version or a C section. I did not want a C section since I had a natural
delivery previously and also had a fourteen month old at home to care for.
So the day after Christmas in 2008, I went to the hospital for
a version procedure. For those who don’t know what that is, it’s done by
applying pressure to your abdomen and manually manipulating the baby so that
they turn in to a head down position. I had heard HORROR stories about how
painful the procedure was and it also doesn’t have a huge long term success
rate (sometimes the babies flip back even if the procedure is originally
successful). So it was really kind of a
bummer and also hard to have lingering in the back of my head over the
holidays. Anyway, I went in on that Friday morning and it honestly wasn’t THAT
bad pain wise although it did kind of feel like I had been run over by a truck.
The pain and inconvenience was worth it though because good old Henry did what
he was supposed to and flipped the correct way.
I left the hospital a few hours later but knew I would be
back soon since I started having minor contractions. I then went home and did
what every person who is about to have a baby does – host a family get
together. Honestly, though I can’t even really take credit for hosting since it
only included ordering pizza and hanging out with family from out of town.
Before I went to bed, I was sure to let my cousin know that she would most
likely be getting a call during the night to come stay with Isabelle. I went to
bed with the hospital bag at the foot of the bed and sure enough at 3am I woke
up and we headed on our way. We knew from Isabelle’s birth that my labor tends
to be fast and furious so we don’t mess around when it is game time. I had
missed the window for an epidural with Isabelle so I decided to go au natural
again. We arrived at the hospital around 4am and got settled. I was then having
enormous pressure due to a bulging bag of waters (too much info? Sorry) but was
used to this because it had happened before. The second they broke my water I
felt SUCH a relief. The doctor then said, “Reach down and feel your baby.” I
thought that she meant, you know like, coming out of me which I am not in to so
I said, “No thanks.” She then said, “No, look down!” You know what I saw when I
looked down? My baby on top of my stomach. Yup, that’s right, Henry had come
out on his own when they broke the water without even a push and I didn’t even
know it. Good boy, Henry. Good boy.
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Henry Stephen
Born 12/27/2008, 5:49am
7 pounds, 6 ounces and 20 inches
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