Monday morning, May 4, 2015, I went in for my 38 week appointment. My due date was May 19th but with my blood pressure so high and a constant headache, my doctor had talked about inducing me on my 38 week day, which was May 5th. Well, I went in and the headache was still going strong and my blood pressure was super high. So my doctor decided to call over to labor and delivery to see if they had any room. Being a Monday morning, he said it was very unlikely and to plan on having Luke the next day. He came back in the room a few minutes later and said they had room and were waiting for me! Holy cow, here it comes. Months before, I had decided I was going to do this one natural. I've never had a good experience with my epidurals and didn't want to go through another one so bring on the pain!
I left the office and went home to grab Brian and hospital bag. We waited for his mom to come be with the other 3 boys and then headed to the hospital. By the time they got me hooked up to the antibiotic, being strep B positive for the 4th time, and pitocin, it was around 11 AM. Dr. Kirkman, my doctor, didn't want to break my water until I had the first dose of antibiotic. So we waited. The contractions began and weren't all that bad. I went in to the hospital dilated to a 3 and 80% effaced. Heidi, Laura, and Tara all came to hang out with me while I went through labor. We were thinking it would be awhile when the doctor came in at 2:30 and broke my water and I was still at a 3! What?! I had been having contractions every few minutes for the past 3 1/2 hours so I was pretty annoyed. But after he broke my water, they started coming very strong and fast. I had heard all about the back pain involved with labor but hadn't really felt any. Having no pain meds, I was expecting a lot of pain, so I asked Heidi if she would use her massage magic and help with that part of the labor. Well, when those really strong, hard contractions came, all the pain was up front. Nothing in my back. It literally felt like my stomach and pelvis were ripping apart with some of the harder ones. SOO painful! At 3 PM, my nurse came in and checked me. Dilated to a 5 and 90%. Better I guess. Luke's heart rate was kind of dipping every once in awhile so she wanted me to turn from side to side and walked around a bit to keep it up. So for the next hour, I walked around (which was fantastic!), grabbed on to anything to squeeze during the hard contractions, and groaned A LOT. At around 3:45, I was feeling super nauseous and felt the need to vomit so my dear sisters ran around the room, looking for the barf bags, which were nowhere to be found. So I finally paged my nurse, at around 4. She decided it was a good time to check me since she could tell I was in a lot more pain since the last time I saw her. She checked and I was at a 9! Hallelujah! Almost there.
She asked if I felt the urge to push. When she asked, I did not. The next moment however, my body started to push and I could feel Luke coming down! She started to freak out, telling me not to push, and holding my legs together. She called my doctor, and paged in other nurses. In came about 5 nurses, with the delivery table, warming table for baby and another nurse telling me not to push. I don't think they understood, I couldn't NOT push. My body had taken over and as hard as I tried, I couldn't stop pushing when I had a contraction. Also, my legs were being held together, which made things a bit more painful. So the one nurse who was in my face, telling me not to push, turned to my nurse, who was still holding my legs together, and told her to let go and prepare to deliver the baby. As soon as she let my legs go, Luke's head came out. It was such a relief! I had to push one time to get his shoulders out and at 4:08 PM, Luke Henry Harding was born!
The cord was wrapped around his neck a few times so she unwrapped it, and placed him on my belly. What a sweet little blue angel! Seriously, the miracle of birth is truly a miracle every time. I have had the privilege of experiencing it 4 times myself and every time, I am in awe of the miracle and perfection of these sweet little angels. The NICU nurse took him pretty quick because he wasn't pinking up as quickly as she liked but once she got him crying, he was red in no time. And in ran my doctor, just a few minutes too late! I think the adrenaline from delivery was starting to go away because I started to shake and my legs were so tired! But I felt amazing! I really only had severe pain for just over an hour. Totally worth it in my case to not have the epidural.
Anyway, they got my sweet new angel all pinked up and weighed. He came in at 7 lbs 8 oz. and 20 1/2 inches long. Perfect! He seriously was the sweetest little thing! They finally brought him over and I got to snuggle my sweet little babe. His face was pretty splotchy and red, which they said was bruising from the cord being wrapped around his neck. I'm sure being held in didn't help in that aspect but whatever. He was here and healthy and I survived no epidural! All in all, a pretty great experience.
After we were moved up to the recovery floor, they had to take Luke to the nursery for a bit. His temp was a little high and his blood sugar was really low. After about an hour, he was all good and ready to be snuggled by his mama! He had so much blond hair and the sweetest little cheeks, perfect for kissing!
Luke Henry Harding
Skin on skin with my sweet little mister
Coming home!
My very favorite thing about newborns. Mmmm...
6 weeks old. Such a happy baby!
And now here he is 5 months old! How time flies when you are having fun!
This little boy has brought so much joy and love into our home. My boys, all 3 of them, loved him from the second they laid eyes on him. Even to Cohen, Luke can do no wrong. They all had a bit of an adjustment period with me and Brian but never held any animosity or anger towards Luke. He is our sweet little man and we all couldn't be happier he is part of our family. What a perfect way to complete our family! I love my four little babes with all my heart! I feel so blessed to have them and thank my Father in Heaven every day for the opportunity to be their mother!
