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James Sex: boy Born: 23 July, 2008 Age: 3 years & 208 days Birthday in: 157 days Starsign: Cancer Development: See the 32 months page. Biggest achievement so far: -

July 23, 2008 (original due date: July 25)

8 lb 1 oz 21 in

For the days leading up to my labor, I had been feeling different. On Sunday I remember feeling tired and relaxed. Then on Monday night after Mike fell asleep, I had to keep getting up to go to the bathroom, my bladder felt like it was being squeezed! I also had alot of pressure in the form of sharp pains. During one trip to the bathroom, I noticed the slightest tinge of pinkish in my TP so I came back to bed and woke up Mike to let him know that something may be happening. Eventually though the pain subsided enough for me to fall asleep, but I woke up on Tuesday in labor :D My contractions got progressively more intense, but it was very hard for me to time them because I have never really been able to tell when my belly gets firm (which is how the nurse explained to me to time them). In mid morning I lost my mucus plug YAY! After talking to the triage nurse on the phone, she advised me to go to the hospital just in case. So around noon, Mike and I pull out of the driveway and head for Presbyterian hospital. We had to wait in triage for awhile until the nurse came in to check me. When she finally did, I was dilated to 3 cm and was about 60% effaced. After another little while, my Dr came in (who just happened to be working that day) and admitted me!

The birthing room was AMAZING! There was alot of room for my family and Mike and the nurses were awesome. I labored for a few more hours with Mike helping me to breathe through each contraction. I stayed out of the hospital bed and just walked around the room and took turns on the birth ball and the glider. Finally at 7 PM, I got my epidural- which was a huge hassle! It took the guy a long time to get it into the right spot in my spine and I could feel the needle or whatever he used sliding against my bones each time he tried to put it in. It was very uncomfortable. But the great thing is that I never felt another contraction! The epidural worked amazingly! The bad part is that from then on, I wasn't allowed to get out of bed, so the most moving around I could do was to switch which side I was leaning on.

The next several hours went by slowly. Mike, my mom and Colleen were there the whole time and for part of the time my dad and brother Eddy were there too. When I was admitted we were pretty sure that I'd be having James that day, but soon midnight passed and then 1 AM and 2 AM. When I was finally fully dilated and effaced (i can't remember what time), I couldn't really effectively push because i felt no pressure at all telling me when to push (the epidural was THAT good). So nurse Judy turned off the meds until I could feel some pressure. Finally I was able to feel some pressure during a contraction (but no pain), so that's when I started pushing. It was about 3 AM and Mike, mom, Colleen and nurse Judy each held up one leg and helped support my back during each contraction. Although I felt no pain, it was exhausting. I don't know how I would have been able to do it without all the people I had helping me! My family and Mike were amazing and so encouraging and Judy was very comforting throughout the whole process.

It seemed like I had been pushing for a long time when Judy finally started setting up the doctor's area and called the Dr to be on her way. Then she paged a baby nurse, who came and started setting up the area that they'd be treating James after he came out. I didn't have the guts to look in the mirror down there, but I did put my hand down there to feel James' head as he started to come out. It took a long time to push his head out, but once his head was entirely out, the rest of his body came out right away. Before I could know what was going on, I saw them lifting James up and placing him on my chest. He was so beautiful! He opened his eyes and squinted around at all of us. He didn't cry but made the cutest noises I have ever heard as he looked at all of us for the first time. It was the best moment of my life when they placed him on me and I saw my baby boy for the first time. The nurse kept rubbing his back trying to get him to cry to clear any fluid out of his lungs, so we just kept talking to him and trying to rub him to get him to cry, but he would only cry a little tiny bit at a time and then go back to his cute noises. I was in love.

After they got me looking decent again, my dad came back into the room (he had been sleeping in the waiting room while I pushed for those 1 1/2 hrs) and took pictures of James. Around that time they took him away from me to do all their tests and weigh him. He weighed 8 lbs 1 ounce and was 21 inches long! And perfect! His eyes were dark blue and his hair strawberry blonde. One of the first things I noticed was that his lips were exactly like Mike's.

After he was weighed my parents and Colleen went home to sleep and the nurse got us moved upstairs from the delivery area to the mother and baby care area. We got a new room which wasn’t as big, but it had a second bed for Mike to sleep in. On the way down in the wheelchair I was so exhausted. I had tried nursing James before we left and I think he did get a little colostrum, but it was painful and I was so exhausted that I could hardly hold him. When I had to switch sides or reposition him, I had to get Mike to help me lift him, I felt so weak. Even though I had been determined not to use any formula or bottles I caved in when Judy said that James needed more. I was so tired to hardly hold him. So on the way up, I held him and gave him a little formula from a bottle. Thankfully that didn't set us back too much with nursing and he hasn't had formula ince.

When we got up to our new room, James and Mike went off to the nursery for some more tests and to get James cleaned up. I was alone in my room for about an hour and in pain before the nurse finally came to see me and gave me some more pain meds. Mike and James came back to the room shortly before that. After the nurse left and I ate a little breakfast (I think it was around 8 AM now), we tried to get some sleep. But I couldn't sleep. I was so exhausted, but at the same time I felt way too excited to close my eyes. Somehow I got enough strength to reach over and pull James out of his bassinet and into my bed. He was peaceful now and no longer alert like just after birth. He was sleeping soundly, but I couldn't resist unwrapping his swaddling blankets and looking at his cute little legs and feet and arms and hands.... I finally had my baby boy all to myself.

James Paul Simpson was born at 4:39 AM on July 23, 2008.

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Henry Patrick Sex: boy Born: 26 October, 2009 Age: 2 years & 113 days Birthday in: 252 days Starsign: Scorpio Development: See the 27 months page. Biggest achievement so far: -

Birth details

Original due date: November 5, 2009
Type of delivery: Vaginal (with pain relief)
Duration of labor: about 8 hrs
Weight @ birth: 8 lb 7 oz
Length @ birth: 21.5 in

Henry-Patrick`s birthstory

I never would have thought that this would have all started with what I thought was me peeing my pants. haha

The short version: My water broke on Sunday morning (we think), I went into the hospital at 9 PM. I had regular contractions but they weren`t strong enough, so i had to be given pitocin at 1 AM on Monday. At 7:54 AM on Oct 26th, Henry was born. Ten days before his due date and 8 lb 7 oz, 21.5 inches long. He has my long fingers and alot of light blondish hair on his cone head hehe

The long version of the story for those who love all the details:

Sunday AM (Oct 25): All day I felt what I thought was a very leaky bladder. Mike & I debated off & on whether I should even call the Dr. I was afraid they`d want me to go in to be checked just to find out there was nothing the matter. Around dinner time we both decided that just in case i should get it checked out (since there is a risk of infection if you don`t have the baby within a day or so of your water breaking). I called & they told me to come on into triage. The nurse got me all set up and the Dr. explained the procedure to check for a rupture of membranes. I was anticipating a not so fun pelvic exam, but when she pulled back the sheet she said, `we won`t have to do this test your bag is grossly ruptured.` haha Thanks. By this point I am 4 cm and having contractions about every 3 minutes, but they are not very strong. So they admit me and the game plan is set: get the antibiotics I need for GBS (which will take a full 8 hours to process) and then start walking. If we can get the contractions going then great, but if not, then we have to start pitocin. :(

Monday (Oct 26)
Midnight-4AM: By this point Mike, my mom and sister are with me. James is sleeping at home with my dad watching him. They give me an hour or so to walk around but my contractions don`t get any stronger so the pitocin goes in around 1 AM. For about an hour I begin to feel them get stronger and stronger. After awhile they are too uncomfortable for me to walk so i get on the birth ball (since my water broke, my plan to try out the tub went out the window). By 2 AM they are soooo strong and incredibly painful. Mike is helping me breathe through them and my mom and sister take turns massaging my back, but it was the worst pain I have ever felt. Not only every contraction (which I swear came 1 right after the other), but even in the short breaks I felt a ton of pressure in my lower back and hips. So I broke down and requested the epidural. It took about an hr from when I requested it until the anesthesiologist got there, once it was in though I was so relieved! I did have some trouble with my blood pressure going down, so the nurse had to give me 3 doses of meds to bring it up and a butt load of IV fluids. After that i also had to keep an oxygen mask on because the nurse said Henry seemed happier when I was getting more air. I have to say though, it was a perfect epi. I must have had a great anesthesiologist. I never felt any more pain, just some pressure and I was still able to move my legs and lift my bottom off the bed (which really impressed the Dr and nurses haha). After I got the epi, my nurse checked me and I was a 6. I couldn`t believe after all that pain I wasn`t at least 7 or 8!

4AM-7 AM: Not much happens. They do turn the pitocin off though because I guess it did it`s job and kick started my labor, but now my body has taken over to do it`s job. I try to rest, but can`t really fall asleep with an oxygen mask, blood pressure cuff going off every few minutes.

7 AM: Shift change, I get a new nurse and Dr who I am much happier with. The new nurse, whose name is Jennifer checks me and I`m a 9 1/2!!!! She has me push once while she holds open my cervix and it opens to a 10!!! Everything is happening so fast. My 2nd dose of antibiotics is given just in time, the new Dr comes in and checks me to find the baby is `right there.` I begin pushing and after just 6 minutes, Henry was here! It was absolutely amazing! Especially since I pushed for 1 1/2 hr with James. He did have his cord wrapped around his neck once, but the Dr took care of that right away. He is covered in vernix and they laid him on my chest but he isn`t crying. He starts grunting, so they take him away to the baby table. They say it`s OK but have to help clear his lungs or something. (I wonder if this had anything to do with all the drugs I was given or the cord, or just for no reason.) Mike, my mom and sister go over to see him while I am still glued to the bed and delivering the placenta. Finally his breathing is better and I get to hold him skin to skin. I kept rubbing his face and hair and tickling his toes. He was so cute, I couldn`t believe this creature just came out of me. I also got to nurse him. He did have low blood sugar, so he had to be given 2 syringes of formula before it was up to a good level.

I had a really small tear, which at first the Dr wasn`t going to stitch, but she decided to just to make it tidier.
　
My birth experience was alot different than I would have expected. I never thought my water would break before I had contractions. I hoped to use the tub to labor in and possibly avoid an epidural. I also never ever anticipated having to be given pitocin. But in this scenario those things couldn`t be avoided (well maybe the epi haha but I`m a wimp). It seems like more things went wrong with this labor than my last (low blood pressure, Henry`s breathing trouble and blood sugar levels)... but at the same time, this labor was much easier. And afterwards I felt so much better. It didn`t go the way I had even loosely envisioned, but at the same time I couldn`t have hoped for it to be any better. I`m sure in a few days the exhaustion will catch up to me, but for now I am still in awe of how wonderful everything turned out. I`m so grateful I`ve had two little boys now who have come into my life.

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Mac Sex: boy Born: 11 July, 2011 Age: 0 years & 220 days Birthday in: 145 days Starsign: Cancer Development: See the 7 months page. Biggest achievement so far: -

Birth details

Original due date: July 13, 2011
Type of delivery: Vaginal (without pain relief)
Duration of labor: 3 or 4 hours
Weight @ birth: 9 lb 3 oz
Length @ birth: 20.5 inches

Mac`s birthstory

I had my membranes stripped at around 2 PM on 7/11. I had already been having contractions off and on, so I was hoping this would encourage things along and BOY it did and FAST! Throughout the afternoon I started getting them every 10-20 minutes but they weren`t intense, so I wasn`t sure if this was it or just more Braxton hicks. I stopped timing them to make dinner at 6 and then we all went for a walk. During the walk, the contractions got 6 minutes apart and uncomfortable. We got home and I took a bath at 7. While in the tub, they were suddenly 3 minutes apart! By 7:40, I was still in the tub and they were starting to get intense, so I called the on-call doc at L & D. He asked just a few questions and told me to wait another hour and see what happened. Thank goodness I did NOT take his advice. Within 20 minutes of hanging up, I realized, this is it. We called my parents to come over and watch the boys so we could head to the hospital. The drive to the hospital was about 30 minutes and I was clutching the arm rests the whole way. I was so miserable that I couldn`t time the contractions very well, but they were about every 2-3 minutes. We pulled up outside the hospital around 9 PM. The security guards thankfully let us leave our van in the unloading area so Mike could wheel me up to L & D. We got into triage and nearly every room was full plus there was a woman waiting for an induction in line ahead of me. I was there holding on to Mike every 2 or 3 minutes just trying to breathe through the pain and this other woman was being seen first! Luckily, the nurse gets them into a room fast and comes for us. All the triage beds were full so she just puts us into a regular L & D room to triage me. But I KNEW I wasn`t going to be sent home. She gave me a hospital gown to change into and left. I had brought my own outfit to labor in, but by this point I was thinking `screw you outfit and natural birth plan, I want an epidural!` Mike helped me into the gown and we just stayed in the bathroom so I could hold onto the hand rails and breathe through contractions. I found that I naturally wanted to go `oooo` and `hooo` to deal with the pain. A few minutes passed and I really could not wait, so Mike went to tell the nurse my contractions were 2 minutes apart. I was starting to get very little break between them because they also lasted so long. Thankfully she rushed back even though they were super busy. I hobbled to the bed feeling a lot of pressure in my rear end. She hooked me up to the monitors and checked me, I was 8-9 cm dilated! At this point it was 9:16 PM and I was officially admitted. The nurse rushed around setting things up and made phone calls while I breathed through each contraction in bed. Mike was coaching me, but at this point all I could really focus on was breathing. At this point I also realized I was going to get my natural birth, there was no time for an epidural! I was scared! Before I knew it, 3 other nurses were in the room and a midwife is called (the OBs were all busy). I didn’t see anyone’s face but the midwife and Mike. The midwife checked me and I was complete! She had to break my water right then because amazingly it hadn’t broken yet. She told me to push when I was ready, so I went for it and I felt everything! It took only about 5 minutes or so and out came my beautiful baby boy! Michael McGarry Simpson was born at 9:53 PM, less than an hour after arriving to the hospital. He was a whopping 9 lb 3 oz and 20.5 in long! We had no idea he`d be THAT big! He had bruises on his face, broken capillaries under his eyes and his eyes were bloodshot from being so big and squeezing through my pelvis. But he is beautiful! He`s got chubby arms and thighs and huge cheeks! His hair is dark red. I’m wondering if it’ll be like mine when it gets thicker  Sometimes he looks exactly like newborn James to me, other times I see Henry. But mostly, he just looks like Mac. I think the nickname suits him: a big, burly Irishman!
It was a thrilling experience that I will never, ever forget. It was a totally different experience than having an epidural. I want to do it again like this, but not soon. I will not forget that pain anytime soon! Mac had a little low blood sugar at first because of his size and I had some really big blood clots due to how fast the labor was. But they got those both under control pretty fast. Now he`s 5 days old and we are home. He is nursing, but we are struggling with his latch. It isn`t coming naturally to him, so it`s taking some practice, but we`ll get there! So far his personality is very laid back. He is content to sleep most of the day and night and he just melts into your arms or sprawls across your lap. My mom says it’s because he couldn’t stretch his legs for so long inside me 

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