Harrison's Birth Story!

Finally, it's here...Harrison's birth story!

On Saturday, November 28th, 2009 mommy woke up like any other day. That morning mommy was busy putting up Christmas decorations around the house when she felt a lot of back pressure (which hasn't been uncommon because mommy has felt that on and off throughout the entire pregnancy). Sometimes walking would alleviate the pressure. Mommy called grandma to see if she wanted to do some Christmas shopping. After walking around for a few hours mommy wasn't feeling any better and decided to head home and put her feet up instead.

Around 2 pm mommy went to meet up for coffee with her good friend Jenna (who was also going to take our Christmas pictures). At 2:30 or so daddy met up with mom and Jenna and we headed to take some woodsy pictures. At this time mommy wasn't feeling quite up to par, but she wanted to get some good shots for Christmas cards. After the photos were done (around 3ish)...Daddy commented, "that was fun." Mommy looked at daddy and said, "Um...not really, this pressure is starting to feel like pain." Daddy had to finishing doing some ordering at work and mommy decided to go back home and lay down again for a bit.

No more than a half hour passed when a call was put into the Family Birthing Center. Mommy was starting to get concerned when she layed down, the pressure wouldn't subside and actually started to get worse. The doctor called mommy back and thought to be on the "safe side" I should come in and be monitored. A call was put in to daddy and he was on his way home a.s.a.p.

Upon arriving at the hospital the pressure became stronger to the point mommy was hunched over walking. At this point in time mommy was pretty certain all this pressure was in fact contractions.

After getting hooked up to fetal machines mommy glanced over at the monitor and could clearly see the contractions. Mommy would like to say that she stayed calm, but at this point it was safe to say mommy lost it. Asking the nurse if the contractions could be stopped, she said..."We can usually stop contractions up to 3 cm." Mommy asked, "How many cm am I?" The nurse responded in saying, "You are 9." Mommy said some choice words.

Yes--mommy knows what all the readers are thinking right now...

Labor and delivery was the next stop. Our doctor Shelton was out of town (great, right)? Anyways---doctor Birdsall took over and it went fast from here on out. The NICU team from Gunderson was called as mommy continued to labor. "I want drugs proclaimed mommy!" (It was far to late for that). Doctor Birdsall explained to mommy and daddy that we would have to deliver in Winona or mommy would deliver on the way to La Crosse.

When the NICU arrived, it was go time. Mommy's bag of water was broken and then the real work began...pushing. As a side note, Mommy wants to mention pushing was exhausting!!! After 25 minutes of pushing (6:47 pm), baby Harrison arrived into this world kicking and screaming. At birth Harrison was 16 inches long and weighed 3lbs 3 ounces.

Before Harrison was transferred to Gunderson, mommy, daddy, and grandma got to see him and he gripped his little hand around our fingers and goodbyes were said.

Sleep that night was minimal. Mommy couldn't get used to the fact that she wasn't pregnant anymore. The night had gone so fast and everything was like a dream that mommy was waiting to wake up from. Thank goodness mommy was discharged the next morning by 9 so we could join our baby in his new home away from home (NICU).

Mommy doesn't think she could have survived labor and delivery with out the great support team she had.