Bruce's Birth Story

So, umm, yeah...labor.

It goes a little something like this:

Mom starts feeling contractions on a Tuesday as she's driving to a relief society event with home made bread in tow. (The first time I've ever made home made bread and please note it was good. Noted.) They are about 5 - 10 minutes apart and stay that way through Wednesday.


Dad takes mom to the hospital where she is monitored for 2 hours and contractions are now 2 minutes apart, plus they hurt. But after two hours they find she is only dilated to a 1 so out they go with instructions to come back if the water breaks or they get stronger. On the way home dad and mom stop at the frozen yogurt place and also get dinner. Contractions still come and still hurt. Dad draws mom a relaxing bath and mom sleeps there for an hour. Labor slows down.

Friday mom cleans light switches. Dad hangs out as the on - demand - back - rubber and food - retriever.

Saturday mom can't take it anymore and goes to the hospital again. This time she has a plan to demand that her water be broken. Plan fails mom and dad go home.

That night was the worst night ever, with contractions 5 to 10 min's apart and finally kicking into high gear at 5am with stronger contractions every 2 minutes. Back to the hospital, the nurse declares mom is still dilated at a 1 but looks so pathetic and tired that the nurse decides to admit her anyway.


Finally!


Water is broken around 11am, epidural is given shortly after and dilation takes off!


Mom is ready to push by 5pm. But asks for more drugs because she can feel her contractions. Nurse says it's better not to have anymore and it will be over in an hour. Mom pushes and pushes and 2 hours later still no baby.


Doctor says baby is posterior and tries to turn him.


Baby says screw you I like it this way. Another hour of pushing, the Doc finally says we need to re-visit different options.


Mom says "do what you have to do to get the baby out and bring on the drugs!"


Mom pushes for twenty more minutes while waiting for her favorite person, "the epidural guy." (he says he's not offended.)


Dad changes into scrubs and meets mom in the operating room.


Mom never feels so vulnerable in her life as she lies on the operating table completely exposed in front of 4 doctors and 3 nurses.


Ten minutes later baby is out.


Mom and Dad cry as they hear their baby cry.


Baby is weighed, given his i.d.s, swaddled and lays on mom's chest, while mom gets stitched up.


Thirty minutes later, mom is moved to the recovery room where she meets dad and baby.


Mom has the shakes for forty minutes but does skin to skin with baby. After an hour parents in the waiting room are allowed to come see mom and baby. Baby is introduced as Bruce Wayne Christensen to his grandpa.

A couple hours later mom, baby and dad are moved to their private room that they will stay for four days.


Four hospital days later mom and dad are able to go home with their brand new baby.