Braysen James
Born March 23, 2006 6 lbs 8 oz. 21 inches long (picture below)

Birth Story:
I went in at 8pm was examed and still at the 2cm 50% effaced so they started me on pitocin. My blood pressure remained low during it all, under the 120/80 thing actually and suprised everyone since they all expected a high blood pressure patient. Around 1:00am the contractions were definitely noticeable which they said was very good since I had such a small dose going at that point. They said it was a sign my body was doing things without much work from the pitocin. At 3am they upped my dose and it got a little more intense but I just breathed through them, they were about 4 mins. apart at that point. 7:30 am the midwife came in examed me at 3cm 75% effaced and broke my water and the contractions came on insanely fast so they dropped my pitocin dose. I held off for almost 3 hours before getting my epidural and that was a bit intense to say the least. They no more got the the epidural in when my midwife examed me again and said I maybe had an hour to hour and 1/2 to pushing stage. She was shocked how fast I was progressing and how easily things were going for us. I went from 3cm to fully delivered in 5 hours, delivered at noon. I had to push for only 30 mins and it was quick and easy, no tears and very little blood loss. She said I was one of the easiest first time deliveries she’s ever had. I didn’t scream nothing, it was MUCH easier then I had ever expected. (of course I bet that gets said a lot.. .who knows hehe ) I said only a few words during pushing “contractions coming” then would push. It went by fast and quick!

Merrick Conner
Born April 29, 2008 9 lbs. 1 oz. 21 3/4 inches long (just smidgen shy of 22!) (picture below)

Birth story~ he was a quick exit:
Well Tuesday (2 days prior to due date) I went in for my 40th week appt. . At 36 weeks I was 2cm, at 38/39 I was hanging onto 3-4 cm, 75% and -1. Well yesterday I was closer to 5 she said and nearly 100%, suprised I hadn’t gone into labor yet. She stripped my membranes and said after 2-3 good contractions she figured my water would break or she could induce me and just break it once they started my IVs/Pitocin.

On top my midwife was going to be out of town Thurs/Friday so she said we could see whether they could either induce me yesterday, if the birth center had room or I could wait until Saturday and then they’d go ahead and induce. We both didn’t really want me to go into labor while she was gone because I love her and had her deliver my 1st.

Well they called down and the birth center said to get right down. At 12:30 my IV lines were in, I started contractions before they even got my lines in, guess the membrane stripped worked quickly. At 1:05 she checked me I was clearly past 5cm, said his head was way way down and she broke my water. About 1:45 my Epi was in and contractions were not pleasant at all until they got that thing in of course! I had horrible pain still down low from him being so big we figured out later and from his face up.

Needless to say he was born at 2:45 after 8 minutes of pushing. Total time water break to kiddo arrive 1 hour 40 minutes. His shoulders got stuck on the way out, his heart rate dropped so they called the doc down just in case. I ended up pushing him out with them turning him. I had no tears, no stitches…LOVE my midwife. (she had told me that she really didn’t think I’d carry much bigger then 8 lbs and boy were we all surprised to see me carrying a 9lb kiddo!)