Logan's birth story

Logan was born on June 3, 2010 at 9:35 in the morning but not before a LOT of work!

I went into this labor expecting it to be similar to my last births. They were relatively fast (Cory was 12 hours active labor, Bryson was 4 hours active labor, and Dallin was only 1 1/2 hours active labor). The last two were big babies, so I figured I wouldn't have any problems with that either, so all in all, I felt pretty confident going into this whole thing.


Mother nature decided to throw me a curve ball with this one.


I am reminded of the saying "Courage is not always a roar. Sometimes courage is a quiet voice at the end of the day saying I will try again tomorrow." Although I won't have to do this again tomorrow (THANK GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!!!), this labor did not feel like a huge empowering triumph like it usually does, it was just a quiet whisper, "I did it."

Anyways, as you may have read in earlier posts, I had been eagerly awaiting Logan's arrival for quite a while. I had an induction scheduled for the morning of the 3rd (which I was totally terrified about because I'd never had pitocin, and the thought of that and them breaking my water made me want to cringe, I didn't think I could do it without the pain meds), but I ended up going into labor on my own the day before. HIP HIP HOORAY


Contractions started regularly at about 3pm. I was having back labor, which I haven't had before, so I was very confused about what was going on. By 6pm I was in tears, not sure if I was in labor, or if I was just having false back labor YET AGAIN! At 6:30 John came home (What a relief, it's amazing how much safer I feel with my hubby there, even if he's not doing anything) and we decided to call Stephanie Fritz, who would be a doula for us at the hospital. She came over and checked me, I was at 4cm, regular contractions, about 2-4 min apart, so it was confirmed, I was in labor! The kids were sent off to my parents house, and we stayed at home to do my thing for a few more hours. Things progressed beautifully, although a little slower than what I'd experienced in the past.

By 9:00pm I was ready to go to the hospital. With how fast my previous labors had been, we wanted to be sure we had enough time to check in and get in my room before it was time to push! So, we went to the hospital, but once I got there, things slowed down dramatically. Contractions were only coming every 7-8 minutes. They checked me, and I was still just below a 5. I was frustrated, but still wanting to do things naturally. Dr. Silva offered to break my water, but I (STUPIDLY) declined. So, he went home.

After this, the time everything happened sort of gets blurry. Somewhere around midnight I was still about a 7, and contractions were still only 7-8 min apart. I did back-labor during a lot of this time too. The contractions were do-able, but Logan started kicking during them. This was NOT COMFORTABLE. I've had three babies, and that kicking was the most pain I'd been in, ever. So, I sort of lost it. Stephanie helped me re-gain control, more or less. Around 3am I was in a lot of pain from the kicking, but I was still only a 7. The doc wouldn't be back at the hospital until after 6. So, I just laid there for three hours with contractions far apart, me not dialating, and the baby kicking tons and tons.

Dr. Silva came back to the hospital around 6:30 and broke my water. Still nothing. Contractions and kicks were more painful, but I still wasn't dialating, and contractions were still far apart. After a few hours of that, and me on the verge of a break-down, Dr. Kacenga came in and gave me pitocin. This sped things up (THANK GOODNESS). I was suprised that I was able to handle the contractions on pitocin ok (not perfectly, but I could pretty much relax through them), but the kicking was just about too much for me.

I was very lucky during this time with my labor team. Stephanie and John applied counterpressure during contractions so the contractions weren't quite as painful. This is a lot more difficult than it sounds. They have to apply all their weight in just the right spot. And they did this for hours. They were AMAZING troopers!!

Every once in a while I would sort of fall asleep and they'd wake me up saying "Breathe! Breathe!" And they'd be fanning my face trying to make me take a sharp breath in. I guess the baby's heart rate was going down or something.

About 9 I was so exhausted that I was barely able to focus my eyes. I knew it was about time to push, but I didn't think I could. Somebody would be talking to me and it was like I couldn't understand what they were saying. It was a very strange feeling, I felt completely out of control (looking back, I was totally in transition).

It was confirmed that it was time to push, and with the next contraction I was supposed to push, the next contraction came, and I pushed, but Dr. Kacenga said I wasn't even pushing. (WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?) I remember saying "God, help me." I just didn't think I could muster the stregth to do it. I remembered a conversation I'd had with John a few days before about what pushing felt like (all mothers know, sort of like pooping, right?) So, in my head I thought to myself, "These darn doctors making me push! They would deserve it if I DID poop on them!" So, ladies and gentlemen, THAT was my motivation for bearing down and pushing. ha ha (And no, didn't actually poop on them, and looking back I am thankful.) After a few screams and tears and pushes, Logan was out. I couldn't even move afterward. I just kind of sat in awe at what had just happened.

Of course, once I came-to, I instantly fell in love with my darling little Logan. He has my heart now, and I am just grateful I was able to deliver him safely.

That evening Logan got to meet his brothers, and other family members. It was wonderful. The next day I felt SOOOO GOOD! Better than I've felt in a long time. I was released around 11am. Right before I left I remember my back being a little sore in one spot. It's been sore there a lot lately, and I'd been chucking it up to pregnancy, and so I just figured now it was because of delivery. Well, the pain got worse and worse throughout the day, and by 6pm I couldn't even stand up straight. So, I called the OB on call, and she said it sounded like kidneys, and to go to the emergency room. So, the older boys went back to my parents house, and John and I and Logan headed to the ER. They thought it was either kidney's or muscles, so they had to get a urine sample, which they had to do with a cath (yes, that's right, a cath the day after having a baby, I think it's just cruel! And boy did they have a heck of a time getting it in because I was so swollen, it took a couple different ladies trying, and in the end it was a contaminated sample anyway, ughh) They couldn't figure out what was going on, so they were going to release me, but then the pain came back real bad, so they did a CAT scan on me, and found three kidney stones. Two small ones on my right side, and one on my left side that was giving me all the grief, aparently it was about 6mm, which may or may not have to be operated on. I will have to wait 6 weeks to see if it passes. We didn't get out of the ER until about 2am. So, during the next 6 weeks, I will have to wait as this pain comes and goes. Sometimes I feel perfectly fine, other times I can't stand. This could be an interesting few weeks ahead of me.

So, anyways, that is the birth story. A birth and a kidney stone in two days. Oh the fun. But really, truly, I was so blessed in about a thousand different ways along the way. I didn't have to be induced, I made a perfectly healthy baby, I have had all the help I need, etc. etc. etc. Although this post focuses more on some of the more dramatic parts of the week, I'd say this week was a ginormous miracle. I love my family, and am thankful for the role I have in it...but next time, an easier delivery, please.