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:

  1. 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.

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  2. What a perfect Christmas present! Congratulations Angela!

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

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

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

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  6. 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?

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