I wanted to get this written while it was still fresh in my mind, since I know from experience how the memory of birth fades over time! Although this time I was lucky enough to have a wonderful birth photographer there to help capture it all, which will hopefully make it that much easier to remember over time!!
Cole Henry Bartlett was born on Thursday September 4th at 9:28pm. Right on his due date!
That morning was just like every other morning. Woke up with the usual mild cramps that I had been having for over 4 weeks. I had to get the kids off to preschool, and then I had 3 hours all to myself! I actually really did NOT want to go into labor during the day because Mark had an interview that afternoon at 1:15, so I pretty much just laid low and hung out on the couch all morning. Luckily in that time I had no cramping, no contractions, nothing! I had a tiny bit of bleeding in the morning, but that was it.
Once the kids were home from school we all had lunch and took naps, and still at 4ish when everyone was awake I had no signs of labor. Mark picked up a Chipotle burrito on his way home from work, and we ate dinner while watching the big kids play in the backyard around 7ish I think. Riley really wanted to go in the hot tub, so I told her we could go in for a little bit. I was getting some mild cramps, but no different than the ones I had been getting for the past month. At some point I felt like I wanted to get out of the hot tub and go take a shower. We all got out, and around 8:00 I had my first contraction. Not painful, just barely uncomfortable. Immediately they were about 2 minutes apart, although still not painful.
At 8:05 I sent Corinne (birth photographer) a text to say something might be happening. I called the midwife and told her the same thing. We decided I would meet her at her office and call her when I was leaving my house. I took a shower, and when I got out of the shower and used the toilet, there was quite a bit of bleeding... which I knew meant baby was close. So we hurried up and left for the hospital around 8:45pm.
Once in the car the contractions were very painful, and still 2 minutes apart lasting about a minute. I was timing them with my phone but quickly abandoned that because it was obvious this was the real deal. The car ride was about half an hour, but no traffic and a fairly smooth ride, all things considered. We got to the hospital and Mark asked if I wanted to be dropped off, but to be honest I was worried about getting up to l&d by myself and Mark not being able to find me before baby was born! So we went in the parking garage and found a spot on the third floor.
As soon as we got out of the car (not sure of the exact time) I could tell baby was RIGHT there. As in, I felt incredible pressure and the urge to start pushing! All I could think was how fast could I walk to get to the hospital between contractions!! We booked it across the street and up to the third floor of the hospital to l&d, and my midwife was there waiting for me. The nurses wanted me to get all checked in (paperwork? now?) and I told them I needed to use the bathroom/felt like pushing, so we fast tracked it to the room to get all set up.
Cole Henry Bartlett was born on Thursday September 4th at 9:28pm. Right on his due date!
That morning was just like every other morning. Woke up with the usual mild cramps that I had been having for over 4 weeks. I had to get the kids off to preschool, and then I had 3 hours all to myself! I actually really did NOT want to go into labor during the day because Mark had an interview that afternoon at 1:15, so I pretty much just laid low and hung out on the couch all morning. Luckily in that time I had no cramping, no contractions, nothing! I had a tiny bit of bleeding in the morning, but that was it.
Once the kids were home from school we all had lunch and took naps, and still at 4ish when everyone was awake I had no signs of labor. Mark picked up a Chipotle burrito on his way home from work, and we ate dinner while watching the big kids play in the backyard around 7ish I think. Riley really wanted to go in the hot tub, so I told her we could go in for a little bit. I was getting some mild cramps, but no different than the ones I had been getting for the past month. At some point I felt like I wanted to get out of the hot tub and go take a shower. We all got out, and around 8:00 I had my first contraction. Not painful, just barely uncomfortable. Immediately they were about 2 minutes apart, although still not painful.
At 8:05 I sent Corinne (birth photographer) a text to say something might be happening. I called the midwife and told her the same thing. We decided I would meet her at her office and call her when I was leaving my house. I took a shower, and when I got out of the shower and used the toilet, there was quite a bit of bleeding... which I knew meant baby was close. So we hurried up and left for the hospital around 8:45pm.
Once in the car the contractions were very painful, and still 2 minutes apart lasting about a minute. I was timing them with my phone but quickly abandoned that because it was obvious this was the real deal. The car ride was about half an hour, but no traffic and a fairly smooth ride, all things considered. We got to the hospital and Mark asked if I wanted to be dropped off, but to be honest I was worried about getting up to l&d by myself and Mark not being able to find me before baby was born! So we went in the parking garage and found a spot on the third floor.
As soon as we got out of the car (not sure of the exact time) I could tell baby was RIGHT there. As in, I felt incredible pressure and the urge to start pushing! All I could think was how fast could I walk to get to the hospital between contractions!! We booked it across the street and up to the third floor of the hospital to l&d, and my midwife was there waiting for me. The nurses wanted me to get all checked in (paperwork? now?) and I told them I needed to use the bathroom/felt like pushing, so we fast tracked it to the room to get all set up.
Once in there I tried to use the bathroom but quickly abandoned that idea to get on the bed to get checked. I laid on my side and my midwife checked me and I was 10cm, baby right there and definitely ready to push. And so I did! I think I pushed through 3 contractions while laying on my side, and then he was here!!!
He was apparently sunny side up (facing the wrong way) which is probably a good thing because that normally makes labors and especially pushing take a lot longer, so if he were properly positioned he may have been born faster, and in the car!!! Luckily that was not the case and he was born safely in the hospital.
He cried right away, but just for a few seconds, and then he was put up on my stomach. I could not believe he was already here, and that he had so much hair! He was, of course, absolutely perfect! Born at 9:28, under 90 minutes from my first contraction, about 45 minutes after we left for the hospital, which is when my painful contractions started!!! Little guy was in a hurry!
Our friend and birth photographer Corinne made it just in time, thankfully, which is how we were able to get all these amazing images from his birth!!
He was super alert and calm, he just laid there just taking it all in, barely making a sound!
Honestly I was expecting him to be much bigger, but I'm glad he wasn't! He was 21 inches long, so pretty tall, but not a very big baby!
I'm not sure he really looks like either Riley or Jackson, but it's hard for me to tell. Maybe he will look like me since the other two look like their dad :)
Sooooo happy! Corinne was able to come back the next day and capture Riley and Jackson meeting Cole for the first time, more pictures to come...
All photos thanks to Corinne McCombs Photography!!
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