Rowan’s Birth Story

On Monday January 16 I had an appointment with my midwife. She said that I was three centimeters dilated and was sure I would have a baby before my due date January 25. I was certain that I had about a week left of being pregnant.  I went to bed prepared to go to work the next day, but hoping for a snow day!

At 1:30 in the morning I was startled awake. I laid there not moving for a moment and I came to the realization that my water had just broke.  I called my midwife. At the time I was not feeling any contractions. She told me that I had plenty of time, and I should try and go back to sleep. I went back to bed but knew I would not be able to get back to sleep. As soon as I got back in bed I started having contractions. From the beginning they were one to three minutes apart. When they started my contractions were not hurting. So I stayed in bed and Chris kept track of the contractions. After about an hour they were beginning to hurt and we decided to go to the hospital.

At the hospital I had a contractions right as I walked in the door. I couldn’t walk and they brought me a wheelchair.  We checked in and had to wait in the lobby of the emergency room for a nurse to come get us. By then I was in pain, and I woke the two guys sleeping in the waiting room. After a very long ten minutes we went up stairs.  When they did my initial examination I was 4+ centimeters dilated.

I have no concept of time of that morning, but Chris says that I was in bed having contractions for about 45 minutes, maybe a little longer. I was in quite a bit of pain. When I had a contraction I would curl and grab the hand rail on the side of the bed.  There were several times that Chris was worried I would roll off the bed. The nurse said she wanted to examine me again. She told me I was 8 centimeters!

We moved to a delivery room and they tried again to get a hold of my midwife. By this time the snow had started and she was having trouble getting to the hospital.  The on call doctor came in and told me it was time to push. This was the only time where I felt emotionally uncomfortable.   I did not know her and things were not going according to my plan. She looked at the nurse and said “she’ll be pushing for awhile,” and took off her gloves. As she did my midwife walked in!

I then got in the birthing tub and was able to relax for a bit. It was then time to push. I think that I pushed for about 30 minutes, but I’m not really sure. I remember right before Rowan was born, but his actual moment of birth is kid of a blur. I was pushing and then he was on my chest!  I looked down and saw the most beautiful baby. It was love at first sight.  Chris got to lift up the warm blanket that they had placed on us and announced that we had a little boy. The joy I felt in my heart and the closeness to Chris is indescribable. 

Rowan James born at 6:43 am on Tuesday January 17, weighting 7 pounds 14 ounces and was 20.25 inches long. He is perfect!

I’m a Mom!

Rowan is one month old! He has already gained at least two pounds and he doesn’t look like a new born any more.  He is an amazing little boy. He only wakes twice a night and often sleeps in until 10. So nice to have a baby that likes sleep like I do. 

At the hospital we had visits from all of Rowan’s grandparent, Katie, Jonathan, Silas and baby Asa, but because he was born right at the beginning of snow storm, some visitors were kept away.  The snow continued and we were a little concerned about getting home. Luckily we could drive on only three main streets to get home, and we made it easily.  Once we got home we were snowed in for a couple of days. It was fabulous! My parents were here they got to spend five days snuggling Rowan and making food for us.  We spend the first week of Rowans life hanging out staring at him, marveling at his beauty.  Chris and I spend the next week with Rowan getting to know him and enjoying being a family of three. I cannot believe that a few weeks before Rowan was born I was thinking about how it had been just me and Chris for almost twelve years, and I was a little nervous about how things were about to change.  Things did change, but only for the better.  Now my family is even more perfect than it was before.

Chris is an amazing father. I love watching him play, read and talk with Rowan.  Every morning before Chris gets up he holds Rowan and they snuggle as they both slowly wake up. Then he changes Rowan’s diaper and gives him to me to feed before he goes to work.

Rowan and I spend most of our time eating and sleeping. We have been using the Moby and going for short walks.  Our big outing the other day was a trip to the bank, three blocks away. He loves being wrapped up and usually sleeps while we are walking around. 

We have over 300 pictures of Rowan already and Chris and I can often be heard saying “look at our baby.” We are continually entertained by the many faces that he makes, how he sleeps with his arms around his head/face, and just about every other thing he does. The last month as been amazing, we are happy!