Born July 23, 2009 weighing 8 lbs 12 oz, measuring 22 inches long.
Aiden's birth story:
I had been having some mild contractions off and on since Monday, but nothing substantial. Then on Wednesday, my water broke. So, I called my 2 classmates who were going to attend the birth, and I called my midwife. My classmates came and took care of me during labor, giving my midwife time to get her schedule arranged, etc. I have to add that my classmates and I are student midwives, which is why my midwife was okay with not rushing right over...Anyway, I wasn't really contracting regularly, so we went shopping at the outlet mall for a few hours, then came back to my house. We ate, we watched movies, they would check on the baby and my vital signs when appropriate, etc. Then we went to bed...it was a full house, me and my husband (Tom), my classmates Kristen and Michelle, my 3 boys, and my mom! Anyway, my contractions started to get in a good pattern around 4 am, so at 4:45, I had Kristen check my progress, and I was 4-5 cm at that point...So, we decided to sleep (well, they slept, I contracted) for a couple more hours, and then we would call the midwife (Karen) in a couple of hours so she would be rested. Karen ended up calling me around 7 am to see what was happening, and I told her what was going on, and she decided she would come on over (she lives over an hour from me). So we all were up, everyone had some breakfast (I just ate some granola in my bedroom). My mom and Tom kept my other 3 boys out of my room, and Kristen and Michelle labored with me. Karen got here, and after a walk and having a snack of yogurt with fresh strawberries (yum), she checked me so we could determine if it was a good time for me to get into my birth pool. I was 6 cm, stretchy to 7, so I was given the go ahead to get in. YAY! Love the warm water. So I just hung out in the pool contracting anywhere from 1.5 - 4 minutes apart. I liked the ones that were 4 minutes apart, LOL....Anyway, I had declined any further cervical checks as I just wanted things to progress on their own and just allow my body to do what it needed, but after about 3.5 hours and feeling like I should have been done already, I asked to be checked. I had a lip of cervix left that was holding him back. So, we decided that one of them would hold the lip and I would push his head past it...OUCH!!! But, it worked. Then I could feel him in the birth canal, and couldn't help but push. Only took me 2 minutes to push him out after they moved the lip of cervix, but it felt like a lot longer! Anyway, I delivered the placenta in the pool a few minutes later, then we got out of the tub and onto my bed. He latched on about 30 minutes after the birth, and has been nursing great since! After doing his newborn exam, Karen checked me for any tears, and much to my surprise and relief, I HAD NOT TORN!!!!! First time I haven't needed stitches, and he is my biggest baby!!! My other three were 7 lbs, 7 oz, 7 lbs, 7 oz, and 7 lbs, 13 oz...so for him to be 8 lbs, 12 oz was quite a shock, and that my perineum stayed intact was an absolute miracle in my eyes!!! I am so thankful that my sister classmates were able to be here for me, and how awesome they and my midwife Karen were...Anyway, that's our story :)
