Friday, December 25, 2009

I got a baby for Christmas!


Despite my fears of going into labor over Christmas Eve...

Richard and I were wrapping Christmas presents, when the mild contractions I'd been having off and on all day suddenly became more intense. It was about 1 a.m.

At 2 a.m., I decided to go to bed, but couldn't sleep through the contractions, so I started timing them. I called my midwife at 3:30 and told her THIS TIME I was 100% I was in labor (I'd called her with 3 bouts of false labor in the two weeks prior).

Richard and I woke the kids at 4:00 so they could see Santa had paid them a visit and play with their toys before being shuttled off to Nonnie's house. My midwives showed up around 4:30.

I had the birth experience I had hoped for, but not exactly according to plan. I didn't have a water birth - I utilized my tub for pain management (getting in and out a few times), but at one point I fell asleep during contractions. Because I felt the tub was slowing my progress, I got out.

After roughly 11 hours of labor and 45 minutes of pushing, I gave birth in my bed to our son, Thomas Becket. He weighs 8 lbs. 2 oz. (a big baby for me considering my others only weighed around 6 1/2 lbs) and 20 1/2 inches long. He has brown-black hair and looks a lot like my youngest daughter when she was born.

Speaking of the kids - we waited until they came home to tell them that they had a new baby brother! I wanted them to see him for themselves!!

By the way, I feel absolutely FABULOUS! Sore and tired, but fabulous!!!

9 comments:

Mrs. D said...

So what really happened is that you didn't finish shopping and had to out do all of the other presents? LOL

Wonderful, wonderful news. Big congratulations.

Paige said...

Congratulations!

Renee' said...

What a perfect Christmas present! Congratulations Angela!

Rhonda said...

~~CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!~~
He is absolutely gorgeous.
What a precious gift.

Amber said...

Ohhhh.... I was wondering if you would have your baby on Christmas ;o)

Michelle said...

OOOO! Congratulations!!

Unknown said...

Best Christmas EVER! Congratulations again, Richard and Angela!!

MeWoodward said...

CONGRATS! Very exciting :)

K a r e n said...

11 hours!! How was the pressure? I tried to have the water birth too but just like you said, it slows you down. I agree with that. I can't believe you fell asleep during the contractions! I was too scared to fall asleep. The story is wonderful. I am so happy you had the home birth. It's amazing! And 8lbs! Wow. That's very awesome! I love the name too. How did the kids react?