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May 23, 2012 by: Shell

Four Years Ago: A Birth Story

Because I had super fast labors with my first and second babies and barely made it to the hospital with each of them even though we lived just minutes away, the decision was made to induce my third.

motherhood

A few days before welcoming baby #3

Having to first get the big boys(the youngest of which had just turned 2 and the oldest just shy of 3.5- yes, we had our babies close together and yes, we are aware of how that happens) to Grammy’s house and then still make it to the hospital 45 minutes away was not something that we were sure we’d have time for and I had absolutely zero desire to have a baby on the side of the road. Or, truth be told, to have another baby without an epidural. Natural childbirth hurts, y’all. 

I was scheduled for an induction on May 30th.

But on the afternoon of May 23rd, I started to feel contractions…ones that hurt a little. Since my contractions never get normal(pregnancy books really need to point this out- that not everyone gets REGULAR contractions), it was the pain that concerned me.

My mom had plans to stop by that afternoon anyway, so I called Hubs and told him maybe we better go to the hospital.

He nervously watched me during the drive to the hospital, remembering our ride with our first, when I was making crazy animal grunting noises and almost tore his arm off when I saw that he was about to take the route that would have made us go over speed bumps.

But, I was much calmer this time around.

No one seemed in a hurry to see us at the hospital. One of the nurses told me they were busy and I was way too calm to be in active labor. I insisted that was what they had told me when I arrived at the hospital with my second and I was dilated to a 9 then.

I was finally called back and my contractions monitored, but it still seemed like we were being ignored.

Later, I was checked and found to be at a 4.  But, my doctor was called and we were told that since my labors tend to be fast and it was only a week until my scheduled induction, we could stay and I could be induced then. We asked for a few minutes to discuss it.

I don’t know why, but I was actually terrified of being induced.  I thought it might jinx my fast labors or something.

Hubs and I actually debated leaving the hospital and going to catch a movie because the hospital was right by the “good” movie theater with the huge plushy seats where you can order things like spinach artichoke dip.  Since we’d missed dinner, that was sounding really good.

But since there was also the possibility that we’d choose to leave and I’d end up right back there later that night…or you know, giving birth on the side of the road, we decided to go ahead with the induction.

At about 9pm, I got put into a labor/delivery room. My doctor came in and asked if I wanted an epidural right away. I looked at her blankly and told her that it didn’t hurt yet.

She told me that if it were up to her, she’d meet her moms in the parking lot and give them an epidural right there because there’s no reason to have even a second too long of discomfort. Though I said I wanted an epidural this time around, I was a giant chicken when it came to needles. So, I waited.

She started the induction process…while my husband ate Arby’s takeout while I glared at him because I was freaking hungry, too. Four years later and I still sort of want to kick him for that.

I ended up getting an epidural shortly before 10pm, which kicked in very quickly… and made me less crabby about my lack of curly fries with cheese.

Hubs and I watched Grey’s Anatomy(a rerun from the night before) and discussed baby names during the commercial breaks. We had a few on our short list, but I’m a big believer in waiting until you are in labor to make the final decision(expectant moms, take note: husbands are more likely to agree to anything you say when you are in labor, so your vote counts for more this way).

Shortly before midnight, I told the doctor that I felt pressure. She looked and said “Whoa.  That’s because the head is RIGHT THERE. Ready to push?”

A few pushes and out popped our incredibly fuzzy little Cub: born shortly after midnight on May 24.

And 36 hours later, we were home with our new family of 5.

An easy labor and delivery for my easy-going, charming, smiley, eyelashes-to-die-for, youngest child.  The past four years have flown by.

baby pics

Baby Cub

Big Boy Cub

Headed to Camp
Things They Can’t Say: Literal Mom

Comments

  1. Oka says

    May 23, 2012 at 10:15 pm

    Happy Birthday Cub!  Congrats on a wonderful family Shell

  2. Heather says

    May 23, 2012 at 10:19 pm

    Oh he really is the sweetest looking thing. Congratulations on making it through the baby years. You did it Momma! Have a slice of birthday cake just for that.

    And enjoy enjoy enjoy your Cub.

  3. Life As Wife says

    May 23, 2012 at 10:43 pm

    You make the most handsome cubs ever!!

  4. AnnMarie says

    May 23, 2012 at 11:42 pm

    So adorable! Look at all that hair when he came out! Those eyes, now…I could melt right in them! How do you ever say no to your boys with them being as adorable as they are? So, so cute!

  5. Alison@Mama Wants This says

    May 24, 2012 at 12:06 am

    He is gorgeous! Happy 4th Birthday Cub! 

  6. Kimberly says

    May 24, 2012 at 12:59 am

    I love his eyes! Happy Birthday, Cub!

  7. Amanda says

    May 24, 2012 at 1:21 am

    I love birth stories! And my, what a gorgeous child you have there!!!

  8. Barbara says

    May 24, 2012 at 3:49 am

    Happy birthday Cub!  I will have to take your advice on the baby naming. 

  9. Stasha says

    May 24, 2012 at 3:52 am

    Happy Birthday, Cub!

    I hope it’s the best 4th birthday ever!

    🙂 

  10. Mel says

    May 24, 2012 at 7:08 am

    Y’all sure do make some beautiful babies!

  11. Lisa @ Two Bears Farm says

    May 24, 2012 at 8:16 am

    Oh look at all his cute hair! Happy 4th to him!

  12. Carol says

    May 24, 2012 at 8:58 am

    Happy Birthday!! He is such adorable kid. God bless.

  13. Julie says

    May 24, 2012 at 8:58 am

    Happy birthday to your “baby” 🙂

  14. Kmama says

    May 24, 2012 at 9:07 am

    Happy birthday to Cub.  He is absolutely adorable!!

  15. IASoupMama says

    May 24, 2012 at 9:37 am

    Oh, he’s gorgeous! Happy birthday, Cub and happy birth day, mama!

  16. Jaime says

    May 24, 2012 at 10:25 am

    Your son is gorgeous! I love hearing birth stories:)

  17. Christine @ Quasi Agitato says

    May 24, 2012 at 10:34 am

    Happy Birthday to your youngest. My husband is the 23rd and my son the 29th. May babies are awesome.
    Also, does your middle son still chew his shirt? Or was that just pre-new-baby-in-the-house anxiety? My son (now 10!) does. All of his tshirts have bite marks around the necks!! It kind of drives me bonkers.

  18. Jessica says

    May 24, 2012 at 11:09 am

    Happy birthday Cub and good job making your entrance in the world easy for your mom. 

  19. Nicole says

    May 24, 2012 at 12:32 pm

    Happy birthday! I love birth stories. I had super fast labours too – and my boys are only 17.5 months apart!

  20. julie gardner says

    May 24, 2012 at 12:52 pm

    I LOVE birth stories.  And women who have given birth naturally. And women who want epidurals.
    Heck, I just love babies being born.

    My cousin’s wife popped out (easy for me to say) all three of hers in the backseat of their car…that’s how fast her labors were. She never could make it to the hospital in time.

    Their first son they named Michael after the EMT who delivered him – right under a sign outside the restaurant parking lot where they’d pulled in that read “24-Hour Delivery.”

    True story. And I love it. Naturally.

    XO

  21. Jenny says

    May 24, 2012 at 12:59 pm

    I love hearing birth stories…and I cannot believe he is four!  I feel like I started reading your blog when he was just a baby!

    He is such a cutie and I hope that he has an amazing birthday!!!

  22. Carolyn says

    May 24, 2012 at 12:59 pm

    I enjoy hearing about birth stories and just shared some yesterday with some other Mommies. This one is as unique as ours 🙂
    I do love his eyelashes. Why do males get thick dark ones?!

  23. MiMi says

    May 24, 2012 at 1:41 pm

    Awww, happy birthday to your beautiful baby!

  24. Michaela says

    May 24, 2012 at 1:49 pm

    oh my goodness… those eyes!!! He’s going to have all the girls chasing him! =) Happy Birthday to him!

  25. christine says

    May 24, 2012 at 2:15 pm

    Oh I love birth stories. And this one sounded exceptionally laid back — if that’s possible with labors and deliveries. Happy Birthday to him and you.  He is an adorable Big Boy. 🙂

  26. Emmy says

    May 24, 2012 at 2:16 pm

    Oh those eyes in that last picture! Just melt my heart- he is going to be a heart breaker.

    And yea for an easy delivery! Hope he has a wonderful birthday

  27. Ashley {@} My Front Porch Swing says

    May 24, 2012 at 3:11 pm

    Happy happy birthday to him! Where does the time go?

  28. Jen says

    May 24, 2012 at 3:30 pm

    LOVE a good birth story. 🙂

  29. Runnermom-jen says

    May 24, 2012 at 5:30 pm

    Awwww, Happy Birthday little Cub! He is such an adorable little boy.
    P.S. Go ahead and kick your husband a little 😉

  30. Cindi says

    May 24, 2012 at 7:18 pm

    Happy Birthday Cub!

  31. Natalie says

    May 25, 2012 at 9:21 am

    He is such a cutie with all that hair! Happy birthday!

  32. Ness says

    May 25, 2012 at 11:39 am

    Aww that is one adorable head of baby hair!

    But really, all I can focus on right now is curly fries with cheese. 

  33. dysfunctional mom says

    May 25, 2012 at 12:54 pm

    I love that pic of you & the boys.you are SO cute!
    And Cub is utterly adorable.  Happy Birthday to him!

  34. stephanie @ babe's rockin' mami says

    May 25, 2012 at 4:02 pm

    I just want to squeeze him!!

  35. Nikky44 says

    May 26, 2012 at 12:39 pm

    congratulations!!!

  36. angela says

    May 26, 2012 at 9:56 pm

    So, so sweet!
    And I know you don’t want anymore babies, but holy fast births 🙂
    Happy Birthday (belated now) to your little Cub!

  37. Angela says

    May 28, 2012 at 9:04 pm

    I love birth stories – what a great one. (I especially like how calmly you talk about Grey’s) Question: Why did they induce you when you were already dilating?

    • Shell says

      May 28, 2012 at 9:15 pm

      Bc I wasn’t in active labor yet. 

  38. just cherish today says

    May 28, 2012 at 10:07 pm

    what a cool story…thanks for sharing:)

  39. Lady Jennie says

    May 29, 2012 at 3:22 pm

    Awww I’m such a sucker for birth stories.  This one was just beautiful!

Trackbacks

  1. With Just One Child says:
    June 17, 2012 at 10:02 pm

    […] just turned 4 and is my easy-going […]

Welcome to Things I Can't Say: Tips and Tales from an Introverted Mom. I'm Shell. Boy mom, beach girl, bookworm, ball games, baker, brand ambassador, Thinking yoga, food, and travel should start with "b," too. Finding the easiest way to do some things while overthinking so many others. Read More…

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