Keaton Clifford has Arrived!

To continue the last post!

The car ride to the hospital was not so fun. I was bound and determined to stop by my office to tie up one loose end but quickly realized that wasn't happening. Laboring through contractions every 2 minutes in a car seat on bumpy, windy roads was not so fun.

We got to the hospital at 8:30 am. Nurse escorted us to an "assessment" room and then quickly realized that baby was truly on the way. Already dilated to 5 cm!

We walked down the hall, stopping for several contractions, and got settled into our delivery room.

I squatted through about 30-40 minutes of contractions by the bed and then moved into the shower and labored on an exercise ball for the next 30-45 minutes.

Back to the bed for an IV because Keaton's heart rate was a bit high at times and they just wanted to be prepared for anything.

Our wonderful midwife checked me and found that I was 7-8 cm and my water hadn't broken. At this point, the pain was pretty intense but I knew I had to have her break it to speed things up.

OMG- Jeremy described an 18 inch long chopstick, a loud pop, and a massive gush. And then INTENSE pain. Pain like I've never felt. Not from the breaking of the water but of the instant pressure on my cervix as Keaton slid further down in the shoot.

Not to get too graphic but I basically went right into pushing and was more comfortable on all fours. So I gave birth, literally, just like a cow would. Apparently I'm a screamer. I felt so badly for anyone walking by our room. It was the most intense pain I've ever felt.

It felt like hours and hours but they told me it was only 10 minutes.

Jeremy, my midwife, and my labor/delivery nurse were all rockstars and when I said (screamed) I couldn't take any more, they got me to re-focus and "bring me back to center"

I can say that it was totally worth it and the feeling was absolutely euphoric afterward. Thank goodness he was small though! If he'd gone full term, I definitely wouldn't have made it.

Keaton was born sunnyside up (a tougher route out) at 9:45 am, 6 lbs, 11 oz, 19 3/4 oz long.

He is adorable and a super sleer . . . let's keep it that way! Blue-grey eyes, blond hair! More to follow later!