Noah's Birth Story

Just in case, I wanted to start this off by saying that this may be graphic or TMI for some eyes. I will keep it modest, but it is child birth. It's always going to be gross and bloody when describing it.


A miracle was born on October 28, 2011 at 2:33 am. He weighed 8 pounds and 12.4 ounces, measured out at 22 inches, and has the thickest dark brown hair. I love him so much it hurts.

The past few weeks I had contractions that weren't quite strong enough to be true labor, but they were definitely strong enough to make me uncomfortable and lose sleep. Finally on Wednesday, the 26th, in the evening they got very strong. I didn't sleep at all. They were every 6 minutes, so there I was waiting for them to get just one minute more frequent as the doctor had told me. Five hours pass, and I finally wake up Craig. "It's time to go get this checked," I tell him. I have never seen him get out of bed quicker! He rushed to get all our bags and things together. He was so excited to become a father!

Ready to go the hospital!

We arrived at the hospital (IMC) at around 5:30 am on October 27, 2011. Ten minutes after a triage check, they admit me. It was the real deal! We weren't leaving this hospital without a baby! All the sudden I was terrified. I am such a worrier of the unknown, and child birth was the most unknown thing to me at that point. Could I handle the pain? Would I be a good mother? Tons of questions rushed in my head all at once. I remember thinking, "You were made for this." I know that probably seems like a crazy thought, but I know the spirit was telling me this to reassure me that everything will be okay.

Craig and his mom, Nancy

Once the nurses got us all situated in our delivery room, the waiting game began. Slowly our families started to come into the room. (I am so grateful for all the loved ones who support and love our family enough to spend so much time waiting.) Because of a bacteria called Group B Strep (not related to Strep Throat), I had to be given 3 doses of Penicillin before any real progress began. As soon as the doses were given, they started me on Pitocin. Craig and his dad were kind enough to give me a priesthood blessing during this stage of waiting. I have seen the power blessings can give to situations like this, so I was not about to go without one from my wonderful, worthy husband. By noon I was dilated to a 5. The OB decided to break my water. She was busy delivering another baby, so she had a resident come in to break it. Four and a half hours passed, and I was still at a 5. The OB wanted to check for herself, and as she did, she realized my water hadn't been broken. The resident had only popped a little bubble of the sac. The OB asked for one of the water breaking hook things and poked it once followed by a giant gush of fluid. That next contraction was AWFUL. I hadn't had any medical pain intervention by that point, but the next few contractions made me realize I was not going to have this baby naturally. I requested the epidural right away. That next 30 minutes made my body go in shock. I was shaking and crying, no sobbing by the time the anesthesiologist came into the room. Fortunately, this guy knew what he was doing. I was terrified of the thought of an epidural studying about it, but at that point the pain of the contractions overrides any pain that needle gave. The sensation of the epidural was really painful, but it was strange. It felt like an electric shock up and down my whole body. Each contraction after that continued to get less and less painful until finally I couldn't feel them anymore. 

Jessi crocheting to pass time.

After that point, I began to progress very well. I got to a 9 by 10:00 pm. Eleven o'clock hits, nurses have their shift changed, and I was still at a 9 "plus." My new nurse came in and tells me if I don't dilate to a 10 in the next half hour that they'd have to do a cesarean. I was mad. I was worried. That was the one thing I was avoiding like the plague. I don't have anything against women who have cesareans, but I did not want one. This is when I demanded that the people in my room pray with me. I sat up, bowed my head, and began saying a pray aloud. Tears filled my eyes during this prayer. I remember asking, begging God to help get my son here safely. I basically demanded that I knew it was to be naturally, not a C-Section. I know He heard my prayer because when the nurse came to check the dilation 30 minutes later, I was at a 10!! TIME TO PUSH!! 

To catch you up, I had been awake for 30 hours at that point. I was exhausted before I started pushing. My epidural had worn out, and they wouldn't let me get more so that I could still have the ability to push. I was feeling every contraction, every form of pressure. After each set of pushes, I would fall back onto the bed, and my body would shut off. This process was such an out-of-body experience for me. I can't believe the strength my body had that kept me sitting up to push for that very, very long 3 hours. I don't remember a lot of that 3 hours because of the point of exhaustion my mind was in, but I know my body never gave up. I am so glad of that. Finally, his giant head was to the point that the "team" of doctors and nurses came in the room. Again, my OB was delivering another baby, so the resident was the one who I call "the catcher." I was in so much pain, but the desire to get that baby out was much deeper than the pain. I kept pushing. After every big breath came an even bigger push. Push. Push. PUUUUUSSSSHHHH. "He's HERE!!!" My cheerleading team (Craig, my mom, Jessica, Nancy, and Allison) were all shouting with joy. I sobbed. Craig sobbed. My mom was crying. Jessi was crying. (They were the ones holding my legs and doing the counting.) The difference of 10 seconds made me a mother, made Craig a father. They took Noah away immediately to wipe down and do all the Apgar scoring, etc. Now comes the part that not many talk about-the afterbirth. In my opinion, it was the worse pain of it all. Luckily for me, I did not rip on the outside (I had a mini tear inside that required one stitch) or have an episiotomy, but I was bleeding. I was bleeding a lot. On top of the nurse and resident basically putting all their weight on my stomach to push the placenta and excess blood out, the resident kept stuffing what looked like full kitchen towels up my va-ja-ja. Reminder: epidural completely gone at this point. I could feel every poke and push down there. OUCH. I was so weak by then. I felt so faint, and I knew they were going to bring Noah to me soon. I couldn't hold him. My arms had no strength left. I began to cry even harder. I was so tired I couldn't even hold my baby. This made me feel like an awful mom. All I want was to kiss his already chubby cheeks. Finally they got the bleeding under control and such. I didn't hemorrhage, but it sure was close they told me. 

Holding Daddy's hand

Such a big boy!!

Such a sad face!

Finally holding Noah

What a happy Papa!!

Grandma Sue

Auntie Allison (Craig looking exhausted.)

They kept me in labor and delivery for a bit longer than most to monitor my blood pressure. (It was low due to the blood loss.) I had Craig help me hold Noah. I was worried I was going to drop him, but I didn't. I so badly wanted to be successful at breast feeding. First skin-to-skin with Noah was text book. He self latched and has been a pro nurser ever since. Most couples go with their baby for their first bath and nursery stay, but Craig and I were so, so tired. The nurses took Noah to the nursery, and we slept. I slept from 4:00 am to 8:30 am before the nurse brought Noah in to feed. I felt like a million bucks from that 4 hour nap. Seriously, it was just what I needed. I had minimal vaginal swelling and pain, so I only was given Motrin. I didn't feel the need to be on some heavy narcotic that made me sleepy. I wasn't in pain really, so I refused. Our hospital stay was pleasant. We had the best care. I am thankful to the wonderful nurses that took such great care of Noah and me. Looking back on the experience, it wasn't horrible at all. In fact, I will forever cherish it. Noah is the greatest blessing to EVER come in my life. His sweet little spirit makes our home so much better. I kiss him so much because I just can't get enough of his chubby cheeks. I love him more than I ever knew love could be. A woman's body is something else. My recovery has been so easy. Other than some discomfort when my milk came in (okay, engorgement is a little more than just uncomfortable) I have felt terrific. I can't believe how quickly I recovered. I think it's because I had to be there for Noah. Craig had to return to school and work the day after we got home from the hospital, so it was my job to make sure Noah was taken care of. I know strength came from my Heavenly Father. I know through all of this pregnancy, birth, and now parenthood HE is why I able to get through it. HE is where love comes from. I do not take credit for any of it. It was the spirit that kept/keeps me going. I am so grateful I have Him in my life as well as Noah, Craig, and all my family and friends who love and support us.

So much hair!!

Grandma Nancy loves kisses!

Going home from the hospital.

Now, there you have it. The birth story of my first born. I still find it hard to believe I'm a mom. I swear just yesterday I was playing with Barbies...