The Short version:
Labor and delivery went perfectly, exactly like I wanted. Woke up a lot during the night, got up at 2:30pm. Woke Brandon up at 3:30. Left about 4:20. Dropped off Izzy, arrived at 4:35. Everyone that needed to be there was there. No epidural or medication in the hospital. Great support from Brandon and Treana, my doula, and Dr. Horsley, who I couldn't have done without. Twenty minutes after arriving at the hospital, Alexander Brandon Forster was born at 5:00am. Dark hair. 8lbs 4 oz. Healthy little chunk!
The SUPER Long version:
Almost two weeks have passed, and Alexander seems to have already grown a couple of pounds. He is HUGE! at least compared to Isabela when she was born.
During my last few doctor’s appointments, I was “given the option” to be induced. It was obviously my doctor’s preference, if I so chose. However, he has always been VERY supportive of doing what I want, as long as there was no risk to the health of the baby. I had been dilated to 2cm for about three weeks, and then dilated to 3cm for another two weeks. I never felt back pain and I slept like a baby all the way through the third trimester. I feel very blessed. Finally, on Friday, April 1, six days after Xander was due, I let the doctor strip my membranes. I still felt great! It didn’t even feel uncomfortable like it did when they stripped membranes with Isabela.
Friday night I started waking up now and again because the contractions hurt so badly. But as soon as they were over, I immediately fell back to sleep. I was exhausted! About 2:30am, I finally got out of bed. I brushed my hair and started getting ready. I woke Brandon about 3:30 (the light from my phone woke him up because I kept it on forever, using it as a stopwatch to time my contractions). I said, “We’ll probably have to go to the hospital soon.” His eyes popped open HUGE! “WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?” He was tired, but also really nervous. I replied, “I don’t know about you, but I am going to lay here for awhile.” He relaxed and went back to sleep for a bit. I was glad to labor by myself during most of the night so I could do what I wanted and Brandon was not there wondering what to do or asking me when we should leave to the hospital.
Once he was asleep, I called my mom and my doula. Brandon heard me on the phone, got out of bed, called the babysitter, and got Isabela ready to go. Talking to mom, my contraction were about 4 minutes apart. She insisted I leave right then. I told her I would do it how and when I wanted. I told Brandon, “Treana said I didn’t have to leave until I lost my sense of humor. And I still have my sense of humor!” Right after that, though, the contractions immediately when from 4 minutes to 2 minutes apart. I told Brandon, “We have to go.” He said, “I’m getting ready.” I said, “No. We are no longer getting ready. We have to go NOW.” It was only for about those 5 seconds that I lost my sense of humor.
Outside the house, I had a contraction, during which I dropped to my hands and knees on the wet grass. Oh, did that feel so good! I was a furnace! Brandon said later he was lost as to what to do. He kept wanting to help me, but couldn’t. Then he wondered, How many of our neighbors are out watching this? What would they think? My wife is down on the ground in pain and I am just standing here watching her. We left at 4:20. By 4:30, Brandon dropped me off at the hospital and took Izzy across the street to the Trujillo’s.
I got to labor and delivery. Before the nurse could say anything, I said, “I am going to have my baby like, RIGHT NOW!” She said, “Ok, what’s your name?” Right then I had a contraction and dropped to squatting position. She looked at me really funny, kept wanting to say something, then finally said, “I’ll just wait.” I managed a meager, “Ok.” I gave her my name, said Brandon would be coming up, then went to my room.
Peggy was my nurse! I loved her. Peggy and Treana, my doula, together made a great team! They were hilarious. Peggy first asked me, “What do you want first? Usually we have you go to the bathroom first. Do you want to go to the bathroom? Do you want me to check you?” I said, “You had better check me first!” I was dilated to a 9! "At 9cm, you have more options. Do you want an IV?" No. I certainly did not, and man was I grateful I didn't have to have one.
Treana arrived just in time, as did Mom and Christina. Dr. Horsley, who luckily happened to be on call that night, made it there ten minutes after I did. Needless to say, it was orchestrated perfectly. I told Brandon to use the video camera, had Treana use the regular camera, asked for a mirror and told them where to put it… (I definitely took control and told everyone what I wanted). Dr. Horsley broke my water and it went really quickly from there. I arrived about 4:35, was in my room at 4:40, and Alexander was born at 5:00am. At one point, during screams and pushing, I was trying to talk. I sputtered, “I just… I just…” Everyone thought I was not okay. They all immediately started reassuring me, “You are okay. You are okay. Calm down. Just relax. You’re okay.” In my head, I was shouting, “I KNOW I AM OKAY! I JUST DON’T WANT HIS HEAD TO GO BACK UP.” I could feel the baby starting to go back in a little as I relaxed. Then Dr. Horsley said, I need a good push, his head is going back up.” I was not about to start over and push it down all over again. It gave me my needed motivation. I pushed for all it was worth, and out came little Xander.
8lbs. 4oz. 20.5inches long 14.37inches head circumference at 5:00am.
Immediately, they put him on my chest. He lifted his head right up, looked around both directions, and put it back down. He lifts his head all the time. Strong little buddy.
I had no medication whatsoever: no epidural and no ibuprofen afterward. But the constant after pains finally got the best of me. 36 hours after birth, 5:00pm on Sunday, when I was at home, I finally gave in and took two ibuprofen. I needed relief, just long enough to get some rest. It was a wonderful, hard, painful, miraculous experience, and I would do it all over again!
Life since…
Alexander sleeps A LOT! He is very content and rarely cries. Breastfeeding has been much better this time. He picked it up a lot quicker than Isabela. Maybe I was a little more patient this time, too. Xander does bite me with his gums a lot, thought. I don’t know how long we’ll keep this up after he has teeth… eke! He was circumcised three days after birth, on Tuesday, which is now healing really well. He didn’t pass his first hearing test, but went back in yesterday and passed with flying colors. He jumps at noises all the time, so I never really worried about that anyway. They say he probably still had excess fluid in his ears which doesn’t allow the computer to pick up the echo signal it needs. Isabela loves her baby. She threw tantrums for the first few days, but once we got her out of the house to play with friends, she has done really well.
And with the warmer weather, we have been out walking, playing, and running errands as often as possible.
