Liam Ames Edgel

Little Liam finally joined our family on Thursday, August 28th (three days past my due date) weighing in at 6lbs 6oz and measuring 18 inches long.  Everything went wonderfully, great delivery, and we're all doing well.

Originally I considered not having an epidural, so we decided to go with a Certified Nurse Midwife Group instead of using the same doctor that delivered Gavin.  I changed my mind part way through my pregnancy, opting for the epidural, but wanted to go as long as I could without it.  But regardless, I am so glad I went with the CNM's and loved how much more personal it all felt.  I also delivered at Orem Community Hospital, a much smaller hospital than Utah Valley's baby making factory!

After my due date came and went, and Dena, one of the three CNMs, began talking of induction I had a really hard time deciding what to do.  It just felt like I was now considering the total opposite of what I wanted, since originally I thought of going natural.  Plus the idea of being induced without any medical necessity and simply for convenience sake did not sit well with me or Jared.  But at the same time, each day past my due date felt more like a week, I felt anxious knowing my sister Heather was about to have her baby up in Canada any day while my parents were down here waiting for me to have mine, and the obvious - how nice would it be to just not be pregnant any more?  Also, if I did schedule an induction date I could guarantee Dena (my favorite of the three CNMs) would be the one delivering Liam.  So I went ahead and scheduled an induction date for Thursday at 7:30am, praying Liam would decide to come on his own before then.  Wednesday afternoon my parents, Gavin, and I went for a long walk up Provo Canyon by Bridal Veil Falls, and maybe that did some good. Wednesday night while driving home from dinner at Carrabbas I told Jared I thought I was maybe having contractions - just feeling really crampy, and uncomfortable, but unfortunately I was able to sleep fine through the night with no progression.

Thursday morning Jared and I headed to the hospital, and even at the last minute I was tempted to call and cancel.  It just felt strange leaving for the hospital not in pain and without the excitement of "my baby's deciding to come right now!" feeling that I had with Gavin.  I was still feeling crampy and uncomfortable on our way to the hospital, and when they hooked me up to the monitors it turned out I was having contractions on my own, and they were more often than I thought, but still not really strong enough to be doing anything.  But it still made me feel so much better knowing at least things were starting to happen on their own, even if just a little.

At about 8am I was hooked up to an IV, they started the Pitocin, and a few minutes later Dena came to break my water.  Two or three other patients ended up going into labor the same day, so because Dena knew she was going to be busy, and knowing that I wanted to go as long as I could without the epidural, they switched some things around and made sure I had a nurse that could really help me and Jared out with the pain until I was ready to call for the anesthesiologist.  Donna was my nurse and she was awesome!  I was nervous about when to get the epidural, knowing that from the time I said I wanted it till I got it and the drugs began to kick in would take about 30 minutes.  And I knew at some point the pain would exponentially increase and I might miss the chance to get it at all.  Since I pushed for 3.5 hours with Gavin, I did not want a possible repeat of that without drugs!  But it's a little hard to predict what your pain level will be 30 minutes into the future!

Around 11:20 I really started thinking I was ready for the anesthesiologist (at least during contractions), but as soon as a contraction would end, I'd think, "No, maybe I'm okay and can go a bit longer".  But because I was so scared of what the pain might be in 30 minutes, I decided to go ahead and have him come right then.  It turned out he was finishing up in a surgery right then so it took about 10 minutes for him to get there, and by the time he arrived at 11:30 I was ready, and the contractions were REALLY starting to hurt!  By noon the drugs began to kick in and it was such a relief.  I'm so grateful for epidurals, but loved that I went so long without it, and really got to experience some of the pain.  This epidural was better than it was with Gavin's birth.  With Gavin I was so completely numb that not only was their no pain, I couldn't even feel any pressure and only had the monitor to go off of to tell when I was even having a contraction.  When they told me to push, I couldn't even tell if I was or not because I was so numb.  This time I was out of pain, but could definitely still feel lots of pressure and knew when my body was having a contraction.

Dena got back while I was getting the epidural, and when she checked me I was a little disappointed that I was only at a six.  Since I was now mostly out of pain Jared started organizing our stuff and sorting through the billions of papers we were given. As he was heading for the couch to rest for a bit they checked me again and I was already at an eight.  I was laying on my left side at the time, and by the time they helped me roll over to the other side, in less than 30 seconds I was complete and ready to push!

Liam struggled a bit, as his heart rate dropped down to 85 and they gave me oxygen to help him out. I had asked for a mirror so I could watch my own delivery, and I absolutely loved being able to watch and see the progress as I pushed.  It definitely helped, especially at the end as his heart rate dropped and Dena told me I just really needed to keep pushing through a contraction even after it ended until his head finally popped out.  The cord was around his neck, but after one more small push he was out. Dena put him right on my lap as he began to cry and I got to hold him for a bit while his cord was cut before they took him to clear his mouth and check his weight and other measurements.  So after only 14 minutes of pushing, I was able to hold my sweet baby Liam!