Peter's Pictures and Birth Story

We are so in love with little Peter. This post is just to share our newborn pictures and then at the end, I have included Peter's birth story if any of you would like to read.

We were surprised to have a photographer come to our hospital room to snap some great photos of Peter the day after he was born. Here they are

When Peter was 1 week old, we had a fantastic photographer and friend come take some precious pictures of him. She did a wonderful job and Peter was in such a great mood that day!

And for those of you who wish to read about it, here is Peter Josiah's Birth Story. It has taken me a couple of weeks to fully process how it went. For those of you who do not know, Josh and I planned to have a natural, med-free delivery. In reality, our birth story went as far away from that vision as possible. In the end however, it does not matter how he got here. All that matters is that we ended the story with a healthy mom and a handsome, healthy baby boy. Josh and I are so grateful to the Lord for this precious gift and for our health throughout our pregnancy, labor and delivery.

At 40 weeks and 5 days pregnant (for anyone who doesn't know, that is 5 days past our due date and I promise that each day past 40 weeks feels like an eternity), I went into the doctor's office for a routine non-stress test since we were past our due date. After the test, our doctor asked to see me in her office. She showed me how during my contractions on the test, Peter's heart rate would drop a little bit as each contraction peaked. It wasn't dangerously low by any means, but she expressed to me that she would prefer I head to labor and delivery to be induced. She did not want me to labor at home where I could not be monitored, since his heart rate was dropping. I agreed and went off to call Josh and have him come to the hospital.

We were very excited that we were finally going to meet our son. We had already been to the hospital on two separate occasions only to be sent home when my contractions stalled out and did not progress. And, this far along, I was extremely ready to hold our baby.

I was so thankful because my favorite doctor in our practice was on call that day, and my regular doctor would be there the next day also. So, at 3:00pm on May 31, I was given my first dose of Cytotec. Cytotec is a medicine that ripens your cervix and gets you ready for delivery. I was scheduled to receive 3 doses of it once every 4 hours. After I received the first dose, I started having irregular contractions that weren't too strong. The doctors allowed me to eat dinner since it would be a while before Peter was born. At 7 pm I was told I could no longer eat and I was given my second dose of Cytotec. After the second dose, my contractions certainly picked up in intensity but they were still fairly irregular.

At this point I was between 1-2 cm dilated and 80% effaced. The doctor was pleased with my progress and said I would most likely not need to have a 3^rd dose. At 11 pm, our doctor came back in and confirmed that I would not need the last dose of Cytotec. He started me on Pitocin, which stimulates contractions.

Throughout the night, my contractions got extremely intense and became more regular (about every 5 minutes). Josh was extremely helpful in getting me through the contractions. We labored on my exercise ball, we walked, Josh rubbed my back to help me relax... it was really long night.

At 9 am, my doctor came in and I was 3 cm dilated and 85% effaced. She decided that it would be a good idea to break my water in hopes that it would help labor speed up. I agreed and it definitely helped labor pick up. Josh again was faithful in staying by my side to help me through each contraction. I really could not have done it without him. We also had a fantastic nurse at this time who helped instruct us on different positions to try laboring in.

When the doctor came back in around noon to check me, I was 5 cm dilated and 85% effaced. She was pleased with my progress. We continued to labor for a few hours and by 3 pm, I can't even describe to you how much pain I was in. I really felt like I could no longer continue to labor. I was so tired from being up all night and the pain was so intense. I kept telling myself that this was probably transition and it would be over soon. I finally asked the nurse to check me to see how far dilated I was, and I was so dismayed to find out that I was still 5 cm and 85% effaced. At this point, Josh and I discussed it, and decided that it was time for me to ask for an epidural. I just couldn't physically handle it anymore with how tired I was.

The anesthesiologist came in to administer the epidural, and I Have to say that I was absolutely terrified to get it. I was also very upset that Josh could not stay with me while I had the procedure done. He went outside to wait for me and my wonderful nurse and the doctor held my hand and walked me through it. I was instantly relieved to have the epidural and was finally able to get some rest.

They were able to increase my dose of pitocin, and at this point I was receiving the highest dose possible. They had my contractions at a perfect pattern of 1-2 minutes apart and they had the perfect amount of intensity that the doctors were hoping for in order to help me progress.

At 5:30 pm, the doctor came in to check me and I was 5cm dilated and only 65-70% effaced. She said she could feel the baby's head really low but my cervix was beginning to swell. She said that it was not looking good for a natural delivery and she discussed the option of having a c-section with us.

Josh and I were very upset to be discussing this option as we had hoped and prepared for a natural, med-free delivery. It seemed like from the moment we got to the hospital we had to start crossing off our preferences in our birth plan and every time a doctor came in, something else got scratched off too. Our doctor, who had been supportive of a natural, med-free delivery up until this point, said that she would give us some time to think about it. She said that Peter seemed to be tolerating the contractions and the pitocin very well and she was comfortable waiting as long as we wanted to see if I progressed.

She left and Josh and I discussed what was happening. We were very upset, but after a long and prayerful discussion we decided that it was best for us to go ahead with a c-section. Josh went out to tell our doctor and she suggested that she come back in at 6:30 to check us and if there was no progression, we could go from there. Josh and I were relieved to hear her say that and we agreed.

At 6:30 she came back in and checked me and I had absolutely no change. I was still 5 cm and 65-70% effaced. At this point it had been 6 ½ hours with no change and actually a bit of regression, with the swelling. Josh and I were confident that we were making the right decision at this point.

They got us ready for the c-section and wheeled us into the room. From the time we got into the O.R. To the time Peter was born was only about 10 minutes. During the procedure, the medicine I was on and my nerves caused me to shake uncontrollably. I was also extremely tired and very out of it. To be honest, I don't remember too much. I remember feeling like they were cleaning my stomach and getting ready to make an incision, but in reality, they had already made the incision and they were pulling Peter out as I felt like that. Josh stayed by head until Peter was born.

Once he was out, Josh got up to take pictures and go meet our son. Peter Josiah was born at 7:27pm on June 1. He was 9lbs 6oz, 22.5 inches long and perfectly healthy. Praise the Lord.

Once Peter was all bundled up, Josh brought him over for me to see. I really couldn't see much of him while we were in the operating room. They wheeled us to recovery and gave me some medicine to help me relax and stop shaking. Unfortunately this also made me extremely tired. I was still shaking and dizzy and did not feel well enough to hold Peter until about 30-45 minutes after the surgery. I felt robbed of those first special moments with my son. I remember looking at Josh hold our son and longing so badly to hold him. When I finally did, I was overjoyed and forgot all about feeling robbed. I was just delayed for a more perfect time. Peter latched on right away and has been a breast feeding champ ever since. I really cant even describe how wonderful it was to hold this precious little boy in my arms.

Josh and I are so incredibly thankful to the Lord for a safe and healthy delivery. Despite things not going the way we had planned, we are so blessed with a perfect little addition to our family.