Baby Bruddah

My grand plan was to go into labor on my own (not be induced with pitocin) and have him naturally, without pain medicine. You know what they say about plans right....

This little guy was just like his sister, too comfortable in his hot tub. At about 36 weeks pregnant I was dilated to a two and 80% effaced and having random contractions. I was excited. Ecstatic even. With Evalyn none of that happened. I thought, no problem this guy may even decide to make his entrance a little early. And then... nothing. No change for four weeks, well he was changing -growing and GROWING.

At our 40 week appointment I asked my midwife, Machel, (who is AMAZING) what her opinion was and she said, "well, you never really know, but you could stay this way for another two weeks or he could decide to come tomorrow. But, if  you wait you will likely have one BIG baby."

I decided to go ahead and make an appointment to be induced. I told myself that it wouldn't be that bad, I could still go natural and hey - maybe I'd go into labor that night before my induction appointment the next morning.

We arrived at the hospital and handled the paperwork and the business of being hooked up to monitors and IV's. My labor and delivery nurse (Chris) was fabulous. When I told her I didn't want to be stuck in the bed all day, I didn't want pain meds and that I didn't want IV fluids (unless I was dehydrated) she said no problem. At a little before 10 a.m. my labor was started with pitocoin.

Lane and I relaxed, shopped online and searched the Internet for names for our little guy. We had a few names on the list, but still weren't sure what we wanted to name him. Lane started to get hungry so I sent him down to the cafe to get lunch at 11:30. Shortly after he left Machel came in to check on me. I was dilated to a four and in a 'nice labor pattern'. She asked if I wanted her to break my water and I said yes, I wanted to keep progressing and not be stuck in labor for as long as I was with Evalyn (a grueling16 hours).

After she broke my water the contractions became more intense, I shifted positions every half hour or so, I stood up and walked around, sat on an exercise ball, tried to relax and nap in bed, and repeat. Chris was there when I needed something always offering encouragement or joking with Lane about names for our boy. She offered music and aromatherapy and heat packs.

The heat, awesome. Everything else was for the birds. I wanted needed it to be quite so I could focus and breathe through each contraction. The contractions were lasting about a minute with two minutes rest. At 2:00 I was dilated to a 6+ and in the middle of an intense contraction when Chris came in and increased the pitocin. Looking back, I wish I would have been able to ask her if that was necessary and not to do it if it wasn't.

After the increase the intensity of the contractions tripled and they were coming on faster and lasting longer with only about a minute rest between. I was struggling to relax between contractions. It just wasn't enough time. At the next check I was a 7 and starting the transition phase of labor. My hip felt like it was going to shoot out of my skin there was so much pressure! I decided that I wanted to get an epidural at that point.

I was dilated to an 8 by the time I received the epidural and wouldn't you know, it didn't work at all on my left side and only worked just enough to take the edge off on the right. Machel stopped in at around 4:30 to check on me and decided to have me start pushing even though I wasn't quite a 10. After just 3 contractions our beautiful baby boy had arrived.

Graham Judge Farka
Born 10.4.2011at 4:52p.m.
7lbs11oz, 20.5 inches

first family photo

first bath

big sister and "baby bruddah"