Liam’s Birth Stats:

~Born at 12:46 pm September 12, 2007~

~20.5 inches long~

~Weighed 8 lbs, 13 oz.~

---

Liam's Birth Story

I went into labor on Liam’s due date, September 11, 2oo7. At around 9:00 pm I realized that my stomach was cramping along with my contracting stomach. We started timing my contractions at 10:45, which started out being 10 minutes apart, then 7, and then they stayed constant at 5-6 minutes apart. Earlier that day around 11:15 am our doctor had stripped my membranes hoping that would bring on labor, and I guess it worked!

We stayed at home trying different positions and techniques to help me cope with the pain. We used the birth ball, I took a hot shower, AJ applied pressure on different parts of my body, especially my lower back. These all helped some, but the pain really started increasing around 3 or 4 am. We called the birth center and they suggested taking a warm bath and seeing if my contractions eased up then.

So I took a bath and it actually made my contractions hurt more and come one right after the other! It seems like after that they just got worse. By 6:00 am we called the birth center again and they said to come on in. AJ finished packing the last of our things and we got there by 6:30 am.

On Wednesday the 11^th I had been dilated 2 cm, but when we got to the hospital I was dilated 5 cm! And within a half hour I was 6 cm! So we had actually done most of the laboring part at home, and then I asked for an epidural because the contractions were getting too strong and too painful.

Once I got the epidural, I was great! At one point the epidural started to wear off and I could feel the contractions, but they gave me more and all was good again. It didn’t hurt anymore and we were all just sitting back and relaxing. We hadn’t slept at all the night before, so AJ and I both took a short nap. Our doula, Sara, was there too to help us out. It was a huge help having her there. If AJ needed to sleep or get food, he could do that while she stayed with me.

Around noon my mom and sister arrived and they came into the birthing room with us and just chatted for awhile. A half hour later the doctor, who was on her way to do a c-section, decided to check me and see how far along I was. I was fully dilated and she could feel the baby’s head. She wanted me to try pushing to see what would happen. So my mom and sister left the room, I pushed and his head was right there! She could actually see it!

The doctor left for a few minutes and when she came back, I pushed for five minutes, about seven pushes, and Liam was born! I watched the whole thing with a mirror they had up and it was pretty amazing. I held Liam right away and AJ held him too. It was probably the most incredible and emotional experience I’ve ever had. He was perfect and we thanked God that our baby had finally arrived all safe and healthy and strong.

---

Pictures from the Hospital