
I want to start this birth story a little differently, and I want to say that this birth was unlike any other I have attended. She handled the waves of contractions like they were nothing. She was so determined, and focused. I always try to pick the ‘I did it’ picture as my stories thumbnail, but this mom made me rethink it. I needed to showcase this moms strength, so I chose a mid-contraction image. Would you believe this was less than an hour before her baby was earth side!
5:30am I get the call that Sam’s water had broken and she was contracting. We meet at the hospital a little after 6, just as the sun was peaking through the sky. As she was being checked in I just had to appreciate the beautiful orange and pink hues sneaking through the rooms window. They did a test to check for amniotic fluid, and checked her dilation. Sam was still at a two at admissions, and the amnio test came back negative. They were going to watch her for progress, and monitor the baby. An hour later the doctor came in and agreed to admit her. It was baby day!
At 7:45am The doctor decided to check her, she was 4cm dilated. He also decided to break her waters. He realized that Sam had indeed already broken her waters, so he ruptured the bag completely. She then got her IV, and settled in. Sam’s mother attended her labor, as well as her husband Josh. Labor started picking us, as it usually does after a membrane rupture. At 10am Sam was at 5cm. Five centimeters is a peculiar time for most laboring women, because it is usually the threshold between stages of labor. I knew we could be looking at active labor very soon.
11:30 am Sam could no longer talk through her contractions and was laboring hard. The nurse checked her and said she was at a 6, but fully effaced. Sometimes moms can get stuck on the numbers, but I try to focus on the intensity of the labor. I suggested the peanut ball to open her pelvis and allow the baby more room to move down and help her dilate. Almost instantly after we get the peanut ball situated the mood in the room shifted. Sam needed all her focus to get through this time. I love this stage of labor, when moms tune into themselves to bring their baby out. There always comes a time in labor when contractions get very intense and it requires a great amount of focus and attention. This is why they say you’re not in active labor until you can not talk through contractions. I knew we would have a baby very soon.
12:07pm Doctor came in to check Sam, because she was starting to feel pressure. He said she was at 8cm, and I started getting my gear ready! In about 20 minutes Sam let us know it was time. The doctor came in, but said she still had a little edge of cervix left, but when she contracted it resolved. Sam started pushing with Josh by her side at 12:25pm, and in no time at all baby Landen was here.
At 12:44pm tiny 6lb 15oz, 20 inch, baby Landen James was born. He was very calm and only cried when the nurse lifted him from his mother. With a hint of red hair, long skinny fingers, and a little scrunched nose baby Landen was welcomed into this family. His brother and sister came to visit him later that evening and they were smitten!
Welcome to the world little guy!