He's here!!!!

Hudson William Gerrits
Born 10/20/08 - 5 days past due at 3:49pm
8lbs 14oz
20.5 inches long


----Long Story----
Cx started before bedtime on 10/19, as usual but seemed more painful than they had the previous nights. At around 1am, I decided not to bother trying to sleep thru them anymore and got up to have some PB toast. After that the cx were about 10 mins apart, but shorter than 30 secs long. Fast forward (and how I wish I could've fast forwarded this part) until 6am. The cx were 6 mins apart and hurt but they were still short. I decided to take a shower hoping they'd either stop and I could sleep or they would pick up and we could get the show on the road. The shower slowed the cx to about every 20 mins and I got some rest. At about 10 am, we decided to go for a walk. Afterwards, there was no change. My MW suggested I take a bath and drink some wine, she said it sounded like prodromal labor and agreed with my posterior assessment. I got into the bathtub and the cx started hitting hard. They were still short but the pain was all in my back. I did a lot on my hands and knees although it hurt like crazy to try and get baby to turn. At about noon, I was having more and more trouble coping with the cx. They hurt like transition cx but I was barely 3cm and they never got into a pattern, I started to really doubt that I could do this any longer because we weren't even sure I was IN labor. At about 1pm, I started shaking and telling Jeremy I felt the labor lala land kicking in...I was very out of it in between the cx. He checked me and said he thinks I was like 5cm and my cx were like 9 mins apart and then only 2 mins (back and forth like that).

He then FLEW into action, setting up the birth tub and calling our friend to watch the kids. I started puking at this point and he called the MW's. I got into the birth tub and was swirling through the cx. Still with the back labor....ouch. I started feeling a little pushy, but I knew it wasn't the time yet. Jeremy was so supportive. He kept telling me that I was doing it and that we'd have our baby soon. He remembered to bring me water and chapstick and remind me to empty my bladder. He was flying around getting every set up, but he was so confident and at ease about it. He miraculously seemed to be right next to me for each cx, reminding me to breath, rubbing my hips. At this point, I was out of the tub and on the bed and was really hot so I didn't want to get back in. My face was going numb because I was having so much trouble riding the cx and not breathing well. I was roaring during each one and trying to keep my sounds low. I started breathing quicker and saying "out, out, out, ooooooouuuuuut" on each breath out as Jeremy rubbed my legs/hips in a downward motion. He checked me again and said he couldn't feel any cervix and I was still pushy a bit and was wondering where our MW's were. Just then one came in, she checked the baby's heart tones and he sound great. I felt more of an urge to push and was VERY excited about it. Finally! Finally! I kept thinking. Our other MW showed up about 5-10 mins later (of course this is my calculations, it could have been 30 mins later LOL) and I had moved from side lying to hands and knees. I felt pushy, but it didn't feel right. I said "I need to push but it hurts, it hurts funny". My MW asked if I felt some pain in front on top of my pubic bone when I pushed and I said yes. She said it was prbly an anterior lip and I needed to NOT push for the next few cx and visualize it melting away. Pushing on it will cause it to swell. She asked if I'd like for her to check to verify, and I said YES. Sure enough, lip. I was SO bummed. Not pushing through those cx was the hardest thing ever. I made it through 3 or 4 back to back before I started getting weepy and saying i couldn't do it and asking for help. My MW offered to give the lip resistance during a push so that it might slide out of the way. I agreed and for the next 2 cx, she put counter pressure. It didn't get us anywhere. I tried to stand up, thinking gravity might help and when I got about half-way up I stopped and said "OH NOOOOO" and laid back down in a full-out body push. When I moved, apparently the baby turned just right and the lip moved on it's own. I felt him slide down the birth canal. I said "he's cooooommminnnnngggg"
I was back on my side, Jeremy was supporting my leg and I felt his head crowning. At this point my water broke and his head slid out. One more push and out came his shoulders and I lifted him up to me. He was already crying and I just kept saying "my baby! my baby! he's here!"

Madelyn and Jonas came in to meet him and were completely in love. Jonas kept saying "awww he's CUTE!" and asking the baby if he wanted a sandwich LOL Madelyn was a little unsure at first, just soaking in all the information because today she's been talking all about everything she saw and how great it was. This morning, when Jonas woke up, he came in and asked about my mommy diaper I was wearing. He looked at me for a full minute and then said "WHERE"S THE BABY!!?!?!?!?!?" (who was with daddy at the moment) It was so cute how he remembered!

Hudson has his days and nights mixed up, he was up every hour last night and is sleeping peacefully now. I'm very tired but very happy. He's having some latch issues that we are working on, and he's getting better each time.

I hope I remembered everything, like I said I'm pretty exhausted. It was a 14 hour labor, and I've gotten about 5 hours of broken sleep in the past 2 days.

In labor








Madelyn and Daddy cutting the cord after it stayed attached for about an hour


Herb bath