The Birth Story of Miles

If you want a shortened version Chris will eventually update his log of the birth and we'll let you know when he does that. Till then here is my long version of Miles' birth:

So I have braxton hicks all the time so I'm not exactly sure when to say labor started. I was at a park with my friend and her kids and noticed I was having more intense contractions than normal but not necessarily more contractions. I just thought maybe at my next visit I'd be dialated to a 3 or 4 instead of a 2. Then when I left the park just after 7:00 pm I had a long walk home. I continued to have contractions but I always do when I'm "moving".

It was a long walk home, mainly cause Jared insisted on walking, so we arrived just after 8:00. The boys were filthy from playing in the sand so we had a mini family night in the bath tub complete with prayer, song, lesson, and ice cream. After the bath I went to put them down for bed but upon walking downstairs noticed how messy it was. I decided I could postpone putting them to bed another 5-10 mins to do a quick clean up just in case it was real labor. During that time I decided to try and prep the boys about a baby coming. I told Jared the baby was coming soon to which he replied, "So I get to go to school tomorrow?" School doesn't start til the 8th so I told him it would be awhile longer. After cleaning they were put down and I went upstairs to tidy up a bit. This whole time contractions seemed regular but I didn't really know and I didn't want to time them in fear that they really were consistent and I also didn't time them because there were things I needed to do.

I thought about calling Chris but decided I could hold off and let him work longer. I didn't want him to come home unless I was pretty sure it was labor. So a little before 10:00 I was really thinking this could be the real thing. Never had braxton hicks gone on this long and consistently tight but... I could still talk and function fine through them so I wasn't sure. I decided to call Chris just in case after I was done using the restroom at which time he called me and I missed the call (he thought I only called him because he called first, I was planning on calling him.)

On his way home he called me several times wanting me to call the Knapps (his home teaching companion who lives a block away), the doctor, and hospital. I didn't do any of it cause I was doing a few things and Jared in the mean time had come upstairs. I wasn't in any big rush to leave for the hospital since I could still talk and move through contractions with ease. But when Chris got home he was rush, rush, rush! He said he wouldn't feel ok until we had me at the hospital.

I always wanted to go into labor on my own to see how Chris would handle it and he handled it just like I thought. He was an anxious man with an agenda and totally nervous. I kept laughing at him and telling him to calm down. Before I left I wanted to take a bath to try and stop labor if possible but good thing Jared came up and didn't allow that to happen. Chris would not have been happy to see me in the bath when he got home.

When Chris did get home he called the Knapps, put Thomas the Train on tv for Jared, and changed his shoes to crocs. I told him he could get in more comfortable attire but he didn't want to take the time. After the Knapps arrived we left and Jared was perfectly content watching tv even after Chris told him we were going to have the baby that night.

We get in the car I call the doctor and we're off. Chris asked me where the hospital was and I told him I was unsure. He assumed I knew where it was because I said I knew it was close to my doctor's office. He was not very happy to find out I didn't know the exact location. So I googled it on his phone and went to work trying to figure out exactly what entrance was the Prentice entrance at Northwestern Hospital. We get downtown and I start talking to some people but forgot to ask about valet. I went to call them again and gave the phone right to Chris. The contractions were starting to get intense and I no longer wanted to carry on a conversation during them.

Eventually we got there (probably 15 mins or less) and we started to check us in. When they finally checked me (10:30ish) I was admitted being dialated to a 5 and 100% effaced. (I wasn't moved into the birthing room until a little after 11:00.) From that moment on I was torn as to whether I wanted an epidural or not. If I went as fast as I did with Spencer I could have this baby in under an hour and I knew I could do it but... I also remembered the pain and didn't want to do it. I decided to wait and see.

Chris was great at being right there for me and doing what I asked him to do. I'm not exactly sure when I got the epidural my guess is right around 12:00. I had them check me before deciding and I was at a 7. I knew I was close but just the thought made tense up which I knew would only prolong the process. So I decided to get the epidural. It took him forever to come (10mins is a long time to a woman in labor) and it took even longer to administer the epidural. At Utah Valley Hospital the epidural was in me quick and worked quickly. This time it took AT least 20 mins to do and it was painful. So I had intense pain in the back and even more intense pain in the front all the while trying to hold still hunched over my body.

The nurse later told me she thought I was going through transition (getting to a 10) while getting the epdiural but you know what I'm glad I did it. Some negative side affects of the epidural was I itched like CRAZY!!! and I couldn't relieve the itch because it was internal as the anesthetic guy told me. This itch lasted for an hour or two after having Miles. another negative to the epidural was I still felt the intensity of the contractions and had to breathe throught them (I guess the epidural wasn't in long enough to take enough affect but it still helped take the edge off). The benefit of the epidural was I could still feel my legs and move them and best of all, I didn't feel the pain when pushing and that's what I feared most. And because I had the epidural I was able to have more control with my pushing. The doctor told me when to push, how hard, and when to let up. If I went natural I would have just wanted to bare down and push. Because I had more control the doctor was able to have me stop and she worked with me and stretched me out avoiding any tares, HEAVEN!

I still am open to going natural with any future children we may have but I will totally have to prepare myself if I want to do it. As for epidurals, they're heaven and if I haven't done any preparation next time I'm getting one sooner that's for sure!

So back to pushing... I only pushed for 5 mins :) He was right there and after they broke the water it was mins before he was here. I think the doctor was in the room a total of 10 mins. Right after he was born I got to hold him and he was messy. I'd never experienced an early baby before and let me tell you... he was cheesy! He was covered in vernix and as white as could be. One thing different at Prentice than in Utah is they bathed the baby right there in your room. He loved getting his head scrubbed and didn't care for the washing of the rest of his body. He weighed in at 7 lbs 1 oz and 19 in long.

When I got him again after the washing he still had a lot of vernix on him which I was told would be a good moisturizer for his skin. By the next morning the residue had been absorbed. He also nursed really well and latched on right away. Since then it's been a different story. No problems with latching on and he has a strong suck but he only nurses for a minute or two before being lulled away into sleep or just being disinterested. It's like he's eating just enough to satisfy the thirst and hunger and doesn't want to "fill up". So I am continuing to work on his feedings where they range anywhere from 30 mins to an hour. (My other boys were done in 5-10 mins and rarely 15mins!) As for his brothers they LOVE him. Spencer was definitely unsure at the beginning and didn't want anything to do with Miles or me. It took him a good hour or two before he even wanted to touch him. But since then he can't get enough of him and is constantly asking to hold him.
The boys hanging out in the room.

Jared on the other hand fell in love at first site saying, "ooooh how cute!" And is so in to him. In fact when they left for the evening he kept giving me a hug and would go to walk away but come back crying not wanting to leave but would quickly try to be brave and say good-bye while crying and waving. This broke my heart. I can't explain it well enough but will always remember it. I cried too as they left and knew I needed to go home to my family as soon as possible.

I had to stay two nights since he was born in the middle of the night the first night and as soon as we could we left around noon on the 26th. Being the third child and not as prepared as I wanted to be I forgot a blanket, socks, and a hat for Miles. Luckily the hospital has the little hat they get at birth and a little blanket. He just kind of looked a little ghetto to me but still cute.

Being at home has been great. Miles has his days and nights a little mixed up but getting a little better each night. Chris has been amazing at doing everything around the house and Thursday and Friday my friend and visiting teacher took the boys in the morning so Chris could get essential things done for work. I feel so blessed to have good friends and visiting teachers that have helped and brought meals over until Cherie, my mother-in-law, came which was today.

I have felt great and think not having stiches has made a world of difference and can't believe my third baby recovery is so far better than the other two! (knock on wood) In the mean time I'm taking it easy and enjoying life of the 4 men in my life. I Love it so far!