I still can’t believe I have a baby. I swear I’m still absorbing the fact that I actually got pregnant. My pregnancy definitely flew by. I don’t know if it was because it was the whole holiday season which helped me focus on other things but I never felt like it was dragging. Was definitely a rougher pregnancy because older and not in the best shape which didn’t help either. I had a lot of back pain in the pregnancy and by the end just doing the dishes was nearly impossible.
At my 37 week check-up they told me I was as far from going into labor as could be. My cervix wasn’t even open. I know 37 weeks is just hitting full term but I was done. This was as far as I had made it with my other two. Since Gavin was a C-section it meant I could choose another section or have a VBAC. I chose to try a VBAC. IMO I’d rather go through the hell of labor then the pain of recovery. As you know though if I went past my due date they couldn’t induce me and I’d have to have a section. I scheduled the section at 41 weeks and crossed my fingers.
Tuesday night after posting my Wordless Wednesday post showing Sawyer’s Crib and letting you know I finally finished the nursery that day and would share soon (which I promise I will!) my water broke while sitting on the couch at 10:45pm. I immediately leaped off the couch and stood there in shock. My husband looked at me completely confused and I announced that either my water broke or I just peed on the couch. Suddenly I had water pouring down my legs and I ran to the bathroom. Hubby ran the phone to me so I could call my Dr.
She stated normally she would tell me to hang out at home since I had no contractions but since I was going to be attempting a VBAC we needed to come in to begin the monitoring process. I jumped in the shower and within minutes the contractions started – HARD. I got out and finished packing my bag that was actually on my to-d0 list the following day. At this point I couldn’t move through my contractions and even though it had maybe been 45 minutes my contractions were already 3 minutes apart.
My MIL was at our house before I even got out of the shower so we never woke the boys. We arrived at the hospital around midnight and I was miserable. I don’t remember labor with Johnny EVER being this bad and I had him naturally with no medication. I made it clear immediately I wanted an epidural. They told me once I was through with all the needed blood work, monitor set up, and IV in they notify the anesthesiologist. My contractions were less then a minute apart but I was only 2 cm dilated and 80% effaced just before they gave the epidural around 2 am. This gave me some time to collect myself. Hubby passed out at this point but it’s really when the fun started to begin. We noticed that the baby’s heart was dropping. I moved to every position and finally got it up, I had to wear oxygen on and off at this point too. An hour later it happened again. Again around 4am and this time she checked me and I was 6cm and told me if I wanted my mom here for the delivery I should call her now.
About 45 minutes later the baby dropped again but this time the heart rate wouldn’t come back up. The nurse ran for a Dr. and my fears of hearing them call to prep a surgical room scared me so much. The Dr finally was able to get the heart rate down and put an internal monitor on and told me I couldn’t come off the oxygen this time.
My mom walked in about 15 minutes later and it started all over again. This time the Dr. checked me and I was fully dilated and ready to go. She told me that if I wanted this VBAC we had to try now or we were taking a chance at another section. Luckily, I could feel my contractions after less then 10 minutes of pushing we welcomed Sawyer James to the world at 0600.
The cord was wrapped around his neck and he was blue.
The Dr. said we were lucky everything worked out so well. The cord was the reason for the heart rate dropping. He was otherwise a beautiful, healthy baby boy.
Daddy left within the hour to go help with the boys. They were still asleep when he got there and woke them to let them know their little brother had arrived. They didn’t believe him. He had to show the bracelet on his wrist and yet they still searched the house for me. He decided that he was going to bring them back to the hospital and let them meet their brother instead of going to school. Of course the boys loved it.
The boys are so in love with their little brother!
As you know the name Sawyer was a name I found and fell in love with. The boys said that he needed a “J” name since we all had one so we all agreed his middle name would start with a “J”. Daddy then picked out James as his middle name. I love it because in a way we all took a special part to build his name.
Now, if I can stop my Hubby from calling him Jimmy. Oy.
I am so in love with this little boy. It’s been so long (5 years, 8 months) since I’ve had a little one. If I’ve been a bit MIA lately it’s because I want to enjoy every minute of my little precious Sawyer James because as we all know- they don’t stay little for long.
Beautiful birth story! We have two beautiful children and have unexplained infertilty going on 4 years now. Your story gives me hope. Your birth story reminds me of when my daughter was born. Water broke, contractions after, it went so fast. I pray we are given another precious, little life. Your family is beautiful. Congratulations on your newest addition!
Yay! How cool that you got your VBAC. So happy everything turned out well. Congrats again.
What a story! My sister’s first born had the cord wrapped around his neck 3 times!
Sawyer is adorable! LOL about your husband calling him Jimmy.
Oh congratulations!!!! Your beautiful post brought tears to my eyes. My little guy is 14 months old but it seems like just yesterday he was a newborn. My husband and I have another child-our daughter is 10 yrs older than her brother-we NEVER thought we’d be blessed with another baby….even though we dreamed of it. He is our miracle. My labor progressed so fast if I had waited longer my hubs would’ve delivered him in the car! I was 8 cm when I arrived at the hospital and in complete and utter agony. Thankfully they still administered the epideral since my water hadn’t broken. Yes, I too had to wait for the bloodwork and IV and just wanted the epidural!! Like you, I arrived at the hospital around midnight and then I delivered our precious baby boy at 4:14am. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
annae07 at aol dot com
I’m so excited you got your VBAC!! What a beautiful story, and I’m so glad that everything worked out and you got to meet your precious prince sooner rather than later. 🙂 Congratulations again, Jen!
I am SO happy to hear that you got your VBAC! Both Wesley and Warren had the cord wrapped around their neck when they came out too but thankfully their heart rate never dropped. That had to be scary.
That is so cool how you came up with James which is so different than how we came up with it. Perfect middle name!
Congrats again, hon! He’s beautiful.
Auw! Congrats!! He is gorgeous! Happy to hear you got a successful vbac 🙂
beautiful birth story. and yay for a VBAC!
Congrats on your successful vbac and thanks for sharing your story! I’ve been anxiously checking your blog/emails/fb page to find out if it was a vbac or cbac and I am super glad it was vbac. Now we just need more Dr’s to push for vbacs! Enjoy your time with your sweet baby boy
And you know, you DESERVE to enjoy that beautiful little miracle of yours! 🙂
What a story-I’m so glad little Sawyer arrived {mostly} safe and sound, although I have no doubt the rising and dropping heart rate was very scary o.O
I am so very happy for you. Oh enjoy every minute of it, soak it up, relish every look every touch every breath. Even his cry will eventually turn into a big kid cry before you even realize it. I have problems ever putting my babies down 🙂 Congrats again! God Bless you and your family.
Congratulations on your VBAC and healthy little boy! What a beautiful birth story, and a lovely family you have. 🙂
You almost had me in tears of joy and yet a little nervous in the beginning, but yet all I can say about what you said at the end was “AMEN” to that. I should know. All mine are grown and having their own and even those are growing like weeds. It’s sad that when they do get older they can be standing right in front of you a full grown man or woman, and your missing your little girl or baby boy. ENJOY my friend every precious second.
He is so precious, Jennifer. So glad you were able to have your VBAC. What a scary thing to have the cord wrapped around his neck. What a blessing that he is perfectly healthy. Congrats and thanks fo sharing your story. It was beautiful!
Congrats on a successful VBAC Mama! The cord is a scary thing! Aubrey had her cord wrapped but luckily, we had no issues with her heart rate, don’t ask me how.
Congrats on the birth of Sawyer and thanks for sharing your story. You’re right, they grow so quickly; Enjoy the little moments.
Congratulations on the birth of Sawyer James. It is obvious the whole family is in love with him. He is so precious.
gourdsrmylife(at)yahoo(dot(com
I am so happy you got your VBAC! Congrats again on Sawyer, he is just so cute.
I’m glad you got your VBAC!!! You know I’m all for being MIA right now – it goes by TOO fast and you’ll regret if you don’t soak up every second! Love on that sweet baby for me!
Adorable little, cutesie star! He is so lovely and made me melt in front of my laptop!
That picture of your boys looking at him made me cry. SO CUTE!!!
congratulations! he’s beauitiful!
He is so very sweet. I’m so glad it all turned out so well and that he’s finally here!
I have to say, he’s so stinkin cute!!!!!
Such a great story Jennifer. I am glad he is healthy and perfect. I enjoy seeing photos of him on Facebook 🙂
He looks like such a sweet baby! I’m glad everything turned out good! The cord being wrapped around his neck could have been bad. A sign of relief! He certainly is a great model!
I had 2 c-sections. I always wants a vaginal birth. I just wanted things to be natural. Mica wouldn’t turn and I was very low on fluid. I never recommend doctors trying to turn a baby from the outside. That hurt worse then the c-section!
LOVE your birth story! Sounds a lot like mine, vbac, heart rate issues, internal monitor… and of course aDORable baby 🙂 He’s a cutie! I LOVE his outfit, the dark blue is great on him.