He's Here!!!

Parker Grey Barnett

born: October 12, 2011 @ 12:50am

weighing: 7lbs 3oz

We are the proudest, happiest parents!!! Boy this newborn thing is way harder than any labor, but we are ecstatic to finally meet our son and have him and his sweet spirit in our home!

My blood pressure went up at the tail end of our pregnancy unexpectedly and with all the fun symptoms that brought on, we were told it would be best to induce sooner than later.

So, we arranged to be induced on Tuesday October 11th.

Upon arriving at 6:30am, bright and early, we discussed our options and wanted to avoid Pitocin with our goal of a med free delivery...

so, they allowed us to have our water broken instead to see if spontaneous labor ensued. With several failed IV attempts, I missed the opportunity to have my water broken early in the morning. The IV team was called and finally, after one blown vein (you can still see the softball size bruise), good ole Mike got great access and my day could progress.

Dr Harrison arrived at 10:30am to break my water and I must get the reward for strongest membranes EVER, because after 2 attempts we THOUGHT they were ruptured, but not so. An hour later (after taking care of another patient), Dr Harrison popped back in and tried again and "Viola!" water everywhere... lets get walking!

(mere)

At this point, my Mom and Mother-in-law were along for the ride.

Parker repairing squeaky rockers in LD13

Parker and I walked the hallways, my Mom watched some TV, Jan played her Nintendo DS to pass the time. they were great little errand runners. My dear friend Heidi stopped by, snuck me a Jr Cheeseburger from Wendys to keep my energy up and snapped a few photos. My best friend Meredith stopped by, as well, to check on our progress which was SLOW going. I did jumping jacks, walked a ton, and with all that pressure on my cervix with no fluid, we maybe had 3 contractions the entire time... my ticking time clock was putting pressure on our progress, as well. I knew once your water was broken you had a max of 18 - 24 hours to have your baby before a c-section would be suggested. And that was NOT the goal! So, I spoke with my fabulous day nurse, MiMi, and we got the pitocin drip started at 4pm. My amazing doula Tyra was in touch and giving advice via text messaging. No need for her to come in until real labor had started... Tyra was set to teach a childbirthing class at the hospital that night from 6:30-9:30pm (this was in the back of my mind... I knew I needed and wanted her to be there for all the action, so I was hoping I could cope well on my own until after 9:30pm.

The contractions or surges were starting to come now thanks to the Pitocin. I was ready to relax into them, to use my Hypnobirthing breathing techniques that I had practiced. I was ready to help my body progress and not get in its way by letting fear or tension creep in. Before the surges got too powerful, I practiced with each one. I could walk through them, breath through them and thought... this is not bad AT ALL! I can totally do this. Just before 6:30pm, Tyra stopped by on her way to teach her class and we were doing good. Coping with Parker's help... no big deal.

(Tyra)

She brought "Parker" chicken nuggets that I ate most of... labor makes you hungry! Its hard work! Such a silly rule to keep laboring women hungry! Glad I knew better! At 7pm, my new L&D nurse Ginger came on board and introduced herself. I was blessed with GREAT nurses! Loved them both. They both had experience with unmedicated deliveries of their own children and gave me confidence!

my portable monitors

surges
break between surges

another one...
another one...

surges during intermittent monitoring in the room

By 9pm, the surges were coming faster and WAY stronger! Tyra made it up after her childbirth class at just the right time. We needed an extra hand at this point. We kept walking the hallways, helping things move along.

more hallway walking

At this point, there was no walking through the surges... Parker had to hold me up, while Tyra worked on pressure points that helped me cope. The one at the center of my forehead was particularly effective! At my last check I had only dilated to 4cm and I knew I needed to be at least 5cm before I could get in the large jetted tub in my room, to make good forward progress... By close to 11pm I was hoping we were there, because I was ready for a change and I knew the water would bring needed relaxation to my tired body at that point. Dr Harrison checked in before heading to his sleep room down the hallway and said he would be ready... he walked the hallways with us a bit...

walking the halls with Tyra and Dr Harrison

So, just before 11pm, Ginger rechecked me and I had dilated to 6cm!!!

Now I must say that with my love for music, I had put together a most awesome relaxing playlist on my iPod for Labor and Delivery. Complete with 2 heavenly choral arrangements by Eric Whitacre, other favorites by Iron and Wine, Indigo Girls (the wood song), Ingrid Michaelson, Sara Bareilles, Ben Folds, Jonsi, Coldplay, a few Christian selections by Chris Rice (untitled hymn), Cheri Call (i have a Savior), Hilary Weeks, the song I sang to Parker at our wedding - Feels like Home by Chantal Kreviazuk, Sweet Sweet Baby by Michelle Featherstone, etc...

Parker was a saint and remembered to haul the iPod player to the bathroom, Tyra lit some battery powered hospital approved candles. Just prior to getting in the tub, I paid the price for eating earlier in the day and threw everything up... However, my body knew what was best, because it pushed little Grey down further into my pelvis with the heave ho-ing into the toilet...lol

(the tub!)

So, into the tub I went, equipped with peppermint oil for the nausea and candles for ambiance, courtesy of Tyra, and music thanks to Parker and my iPod playlist. In the tub, I did the hardest work of my life. The contractions...err umm... SURGES, were coming hard and fast and the Pitocin was definitely doing its best work, as well. there wasn't much of a break at first that turned into no break at all between each surge. Within the coarse of the hour in that tub... the message of the music had never been more important. Parker was by my side, helping support me and workin the magic of the pressure point on my forehead. Tyra talked soothingly to me while keeping whatever part of me was sticking out of the tub covered in warm soothing water. Tyra reminded me to keep my voice low (a tip from my other FAVORITE prenatal book... Ina May Gaskins guide to childbirth...amazing!)... my quiet breathing had now turned into low primal moans to cope with the strength of the surges. I remembered the birthing stories in that book and how Ina May told her clients to keep their face and lips relaxed because it directly correlated with the muslces involved in birthing "down below". As the surges became super strong, the track on my iPod was one of the tracks about the Savior... it reminded me to silently pray for strength... and strength came. Then I remember looking over at my husband who was tired, but never faltered by my side to be the support I needed as our wedding song came on... the order of these songs had to be divinely inpsired! The Lord knew how much music meant to me and what a help it would be at these critical moments. I looked over at Parker as that song played and I whispered "I love You"... he reciprocated and I remember how thankful I was that he was here by my side and that I hadn't once in this whole labor and delivery process felt flustered or frustrated or angry and was nothing but thankful for this amazing man that God had blessed me to be my husband! Tears stream down my face as I think of what an amazing partner he was for me the entire time!

After an hour in the tub, my moans ended in uncontrallable urges to push and push I did. Tyra told me that I was doing great. I knew that since I couldn't deliver in the tub, unfortunately, I had to get out... and everything in me said... its time for this baby to come. Parker helped me out of the tub, Tyra helped me into a dry gown. But, the surges came so quickly I couldn't make it back to the bed in time and found the birthing ball halfway in between in hit the floor... leaned on the ball and worked through a couple more contractions. Ginger checked me on the floor and sure enough in 1 hour in that tub, I had gone all the way through transition and it was time to push!

(getting back in the bed to push)

(pushing)

Now I had thought I wanted to direct my own pushing... but, I remember Ginger asking if I wanted to see how they did it... and if I liked it we could keep that up. She put pressure in the direction I needed to push and I pushed and felt a sense of relief that this hard work was nearly over and I would meet my son very soon! So, I let her direct it and got the ball rolling. They paged Dr Harrison, nurses flooded the room. My Mom and Mother-in-law were there to help. Tyra was at the head of the bed encouraging me. Heidi had made it back around 10pm and was taking photos of the whole experience for us. I felt the most amazing support in that room! Parker was holding a leg, My Mom was holding a leg... and as I pushed I heard someone say my Mom looked faint... she had been holding her breath with me and was light headed... so Ginger instructed her to sit down and my Mother-in-law took over... she got light headed too. I heard Ginger call on her spec phone... I got "grandmas down in LD13"... bring some juice. So, Tyra took over my leg holding duties on that side.

Parker had signed up to deliver our son with Dr Harrison's approval and Dr Harrison made a mad dash into the room as the baby was crowning. a little petite blonde nurse took over my left leg support duties while Parker moved next to Dr Harrison to deliver our son. He gloved up, let

Dr Harrison clear Grey's head and pulled the rest of his little body out of me and placed him on my bare chest.

It was the most amazing experience. We had waited so long for this moment. The first words I said to him "Hello my friend... hello my sweet boy!" As I held my baby for the first time, I could hear the song "Sweet Sweet Baby" playing in the background... it was magical!

I looked up at my beautiful husband who was crying those precious happy tears as he kissed me and kissed our sons little head. I almost didn't notice the 30-45 minutes of suturing that were taking place below, since I had earned myself a complicated tear with my 30 minutes of fast and effective pushing. The nurses said i should teach a class on pushing, I was doing such a great job! Lol... Wish I had taken my time and saved myself a few stitches, but he was worth every stitch!

It was such an amazing moment.. I was exhausted, but so satisfied, so content. What a precious boy!

My Mom and Mother-in-law were there to see the birth of their grandson, which was also so special... In their own words, Parker and I were the most amazing team. They were so impressed with the fact that not once was there a moment of panic or frustration or fear... just peaceful, working together for this common goal.

(Proud Grandmas!)

Hardest work I've ever done, but so much support and preparation gave me the strength that I needed to do it as I had wanted... med free... even with Pitocin! It was an amazing feeling... my baby was so alert, so wide eyed... he nursed almost immediately... it was amazing how present he was and that was what I was hoping for!

Tyra...my awesome doula!

Dr Harrison!

Ginger and Tyra with Parker and I

What an amazing blessing... a pregnancy of my own... a med free labor and delivery... a sweet perfect baby boy just as I had prayed, and fasted and prayed some more for! How humbling it is to have your prayer answered just as you had hoped it would be... Faith in God means Faith in his timing....

and while I am hormonal and weepy and exhausted and sore here 2 1/2 weeks after his birth... I still could not be more thankful, more in awe, and more humbled by the miracle of it all!

sweet daddy
hello my friend... my sweet baby boy!
our first family photo

Sweet Sweet Baby.... "if you knew how much this moment means to me and how long [we've] waited for your touch.. if you knew how happy you are making me... I never thought that I'd love anyone so much... it feels like Home to me...."