Life Tossed Together: Lincoln's Birth Story

Because of Lucas's weight at birth, my doctor had been discussing the possibility of induction early on in this pregnancy. Although I did have a successful vaginal birth with Lucas, having had to push for four hours and end with an episiotomy and vacuum assist made me eager and willing to take steps to ensure a smaller baby and easier birth experience this time around. After my 36 week growth ultrasound indicated that the Kraken was already hovering around nine pounds, we went ahead and scheduled an induction for the beginning of my 39th week.

My body began showing signs of being ready for labor several weeks before my due date, and by three days before my induction, I was 4cm dilated, 80% effaced, and had already lost my mucus plug. My doctor offered to strip my membranes at my final regular appointment prior to the induction, on the off chance that I could go into labor naturally and we could avoid the artificial induction. My mom had flown in several days earlier so we could be sure we had childcare in place for Lucas during my labor and delivery, so I was happy to try anything that could get labor going on its own. Following the appointment, I felt crampy and "off" for the rest of the day, and had some bloody show in the afternoon and evening. I tried not to get my hopes up, but felt there was a good chance I was about to go into labor.

Around midnight on October 4, I woke up and felt a few mild contractions. After an hour so, I started timing them and woke Brandon up to let him know that labor had begun. Contractions were around 5 minutes apart for an hour, and we decided to head to the hospital because I was already so dilated that I was worried labor might progress more quickly than I was prepared for. I was anxious to get admitted and have my epidural placed before things got real. As it turned out, I did not need to worry about things going too quickly!

Once we arrived at triage, they checked me and monitored my contractions for 20 minutes or so. I was 4.5cm dilated, but my contractions had slowed to around 6 minutes apart, so my doctor requested that we walk for two hours and get rechecked before she decided whether or not to admit me. Those next two hours were the most difficult part of my labor experience. Contractions remained between 4-5 minutes apart, although they got stronger over the course of those two hours. I was very worried that we'd be sent home, especially since the final few contractions before we went to get rechecked were 5-8 minutes apart. The recheck revealed that I'd progressed to 5.5 cm in those two hours, and the doctor agreed to admit me.

Oddly enough, right after I was admitted and settled into my labor and delivery room, my contractions basically stalled out completely and slowed down to mild contractions every 10-15 minutes. I didn't request my epidural yet because I wasn't in any pain. We hung out in the room for 3-4 hours, and I bounced on a birthing ball, drank juice, listened to music, watched some sitcom reruns on TV, and chatted with my L&D nurse. Brandon even left for a little while to eat breakfast. Eventually, I met with the doctor on call, who was not from my usual practice but who I liked immediately, and we agreed that I'd get my epidural placed and then she'd come back and break my water to get labor moving again.

Hooray for epidurals! I had just as great an experience with this one as I had with the first. The final cervix check before the doctor broke my water revealed that I'd progressed to 7cm, even with the mild, irregular contractions I'd been having. I'd been in labor for about ten and a half hours at this point. Breaking my water definitely got things going again, and after two hours of strong, regular contractions (that I merely felt as slight increases in pressure thanks to my blessed and glorious epidural), dilation was complete and I felt pressure encouraging me to start pushing.

I was extremely nervous and anxious about pushing after my four-hour experience with Lucas, but my nurse assured me that a second baby would not be the same experience. She told me we'd have this baby out in three contractions worth of pushes. Brandon and I both kind of rolled our eyes at that. But after two contractions of three pushes apiece, she told me I'd have to breathe through the next contraction and wait for the doctor to gown up and get into the room, because after the next contraction, I was going to have my new baby.

The doctor arrived, we all got ready, and sure enough, four pushes later and Lincoln Michael was born after just under twelve hours of labor and twenty minutes of pushing. He got 9/9 on his Apgars and weighed in at 9 lbs 4 oz and 20.25 inches long. We were shocked at how "small" he was, even though he was born at 38 weeks 6 days, but I can't say I was too disappointed given my easy, breezy labor and delivery experience.

Lincoln Michael's name is from my great-grandfather Charles Lincoln, and his middle name is after my dad. We love the name itself and also the symmetry of it, since Lucas Alan is named for Brandon's great-grandfather and dad.

We stayed at the hospital for another 24 hours and were excited to get home as soon as we could. Lincoln has been a dream so far and we're so happy to be a family of four.