The Story

Where do I begin? 

First a few words about the birth. 

The actual labor and delivery I would not wish upon my worst enemy. Thoughts such as, "I am going to DIE" and "I am NEVER doing this again" ran through my mind. And then it's strange. I don't know if its the hormones or the Holy Ghost, but with a little time and chance for reflection, I look back on the whole experience with reverence and awe... almost as if it were sacred. And I think, "Yeah, I could probably do that again."

So here's the story. If you don't want to read all of it, just skip down to the labor part. You'll get a few good laughs.

Because of our not so fun last birth experience, Ben and I had been praying that I could go into labor on my own, without having to be medically induced. Having been overdue with both girls, I was induced both times and wound up with an emergency c-section with Caroline. So you can imagine how thrilled and excited we were on Tuesday, when at 39 weeks and two days, I started to have natural labor pains!

I had mild ones all through Monday night but once I got up Tuesday and started the day, they disappeared. I took the girls to the pool with some other friends from RB. We picnicked and swam and had a great time even though it was pretty cold. This is Germany. I think I've finally come to terms with it.

Taken July 2, the same day Baby Brother was born

About 6:00 I went to the commissary and the contractions came back. I met Ben back at home, started frying some bacon for BLT's and then had to go lay down with the bacon still on the skillet because I just didn't feel well. Ben started timing them, they were five minutes apart and grew stronger. I started packing a bag and called our upstairs neighbor to come stay with the girls. Ben gave me a blessing and we were off to the German hospital just down he street shortly after 9:00. I was in pain, but excited. 

Imagine our dismay when we arrived at the l&d unit and they told us they were at full capacity and had no rooms available! They scrambled to find room for us. I sat in the waiting room for close to a half an hour as the contractions became stronger and closer together.

Finally they found space for us. The birthing room was very nice... I wish I had a picture to show you. It was much more of an intimate setting than my experiences in the states. There weren't a lot of machines or medical equipment. The lights were dim, it was quiet, there were all sorts of contraptions like birthing balls, a big bathtub, different stools, etc. I wound up on this big saucer like throne, I guess is the best way to describe it, and that's where the miracle took place.

About two and a half hours after our arrival at the hospital, a 9 lb. 6 oz. baby boy was born at 11:45 p.m.

The actual labor and delivery was complete HELL. I went in with lots of confidence, thinking I was all that because I had read a book on hypnobirthing and had practiced all of these relaxation and breathing techniques to get me through the contractions. These techniques were supposed to bring about a natural, calm, and "gentle" birth. Well, they went right out the window along with my dignity and pride. My experience was the ANTITHESIS of calm, gentle or relaxing. I know it's birth, but I was seriously extra pathetic. There was much weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. I discovered my vocal cord capacity to be impressively deafening. I BEGGED for an epidural, and they kept telling me the anesthesiologist was very busy but would get there ASAP. When he finally arrived I was already fully dilated. He was still willing to administer it, but my body was in such turmoil, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to sit still long enough so I declined. It was too late and I kind of panicked when I realized I would be doing this on my own. 

Let me tell you I felt every ounce of pain and sensation that accompanies delivering a 9 lb.+ baby

Of course faithful Benny Boy was by my side the entire time. He has his own little battle scar to prove it. I may or may not have mauled him.

These are just a few of the things I remember yelling:

I AM GOING TO DIE!!!

HELP ME!!!

WHERE IS THE BABY?!? GET HIM OUT!!! (To which they replied, "no that's your job. You have to get him out.")

WHY ISN'T HE HERE YET?!?

HE'S STUCK!!!

The midwife and doctor were trying their best to help me, but between them and Benny Boy yelling instructions at me, I couldn't process it all. Especially since they were using English as a second language. It just didn't translate right.

When he finally did come relief and exhaustion enveloped me, and of course I lived to tell about it.
And now we're home and happy and I can't believe how fast the body can bounce back after something like that. So without further ado, here are pics of the little guy.

It's July, the hospital has no a/c, and the Germans saw fit to wrap him like this. No wonder he's making that face. BTW, that was my exact expression during labor

Em has been beyond excited about having a little brother. I feel like she's sharing in some of my euphoria,

Getting ready to go home

So happy to be home

Tuckered out Dad. He's been Superman the past week

Oh, and you want a name, right? Ha, well too bad. We've decided about three different times now and it's still up in the air. Who knew it would be so hard?

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