Isaac James

Isaac James Olson

Stats:

Birthdate: February 15th, 2013

Time: 1:15 am

Weight: 7 lbs 12 oz

Length: 21" long

 The Birth Story: Feel free to skip this part and just look at the pictures.

Isaac was 'due' on the 6th and I was determined to wait it out and let my body go into labor in its own this time around as long as there weren't any medical issues because my mom would be staying with us for over a month. In 3 deliveries I have only felt 2 painful contractions and I wanted to experience going into labor on my own. I know, it sounds crazy to some. The 6th came and went with no baby. The 9th (Sadie's birthday) came and went with no baby. On the 11th I went in for some testing and everything still looked great so I was determined to wait at least a few more days. The 13th (Eve's birthday) came and went with no baby. On the 14th, at 8 days past my due date, I went in for my weekly appointment. My Dr was very supportive, yet probably surprised at my plan to wait it out and that I still hadn't had the baby. She stripped my membranes and told me that she'd see me later that night to deliver our baby because I was already 4 cm dilated.  As a back up we made an appointment for the 17th to be induced.

I went home and took a nap and started to feel a few contractions. They started to be more noticeable and slightly more regular as the day progressed. By dinnertime I was pretty sure that we were having the baby that night, but I didn't want to get my hopes up. Chris told me to slow things down so he could tie up some loose ends at work. At 9:15 we decided it was time to go to the hospital. Contractions were anywhere from 4-11 minutes apart, but getting harder to tolerate. Chris was not excited about missing the rest of Elementary, but luckily we got into a triage room in time to watch another 10-15 minutes of it. At this point I was only 5 cm dilated.

We got into the delivery room around 10 and immediately got an epidural. I didn't realize how ready I was for it. The baby's heart rate was dropping at every contraction while I was sitting up to get the epidural. I finally laid down and his rate heart recovered and stayed normal. Then my blood pressure dropped and the epidural was only working on my right side. Luckily it all worked out and once everything was settled I was able to feel the contractions, but not the pain.

By 12:45 I was fully dilated and he was born at 1:15 after a failed attempt with the vacuum and a successful attempt with forceps. We'd never had to use forceps before, but apparently my Dr is known for being really good with them. That is lucky for me because otherwise I might have had to have en emergency c- section because the cord was wrapped around baby's neck and his heart rate was dipping with each contraction and,  like my other kids he, wasn't budging from behind my pelvic bone.

Now all that was left was to decide on a name. . . We'd been debating a few names and decided to wait until he was born to decide. A few weeks before we knew we were expecting another baby we were doing some family history for the pioneer trek. Chris really liked the story of his great-great- (maybe another great or two)-grandfather Isaac John Wardle who crossed the plains with the Martin Handcart company without his family at the age of 20. He helped pull his sick friend, Langely Bailey, across in his handcart. We were talking about him one night and the thought crossed my mind that I liked the name Isaac. Then Chris said, "Isaac could be a good baby name." Great minds think alike.

Welcome home baby Isaac! He's doing great and is already back to his birth weight.