Graham Conrad Bowen

The Birth Story

 

The last month before the little man came was full of surprises.  I had gone to a routine doctors appointment and he said that the baby was in position and all seemed well.  The next hour I had an appointment with our perinatal specialist where I was told that the Graham was still breech....and we had low fluid.  I was admitted to the hospital that night to see if it would go up with an IV and to see if he needed to be delivered a month early.  Luckily, the fluid went up and I was released. 

 

Drink up

 

I had wanted to do an all natural childbirth so I decided to have a procedure called a version.  Imagine a doctor putting all his force on your stomach to try to manually move a 6 lb. baby.  The whole experience was quite an event as the doctor whisked into the room and said "Okay, are we ready?"  It was then that I realized that Mr. Bean had come to do my version.  The doctor looked and spoke just like him.  It actually was great entertainment through the painful experience.  Alas, it did not work so I prepared for a c-section on the 21st - an apocalypse baby. 

 

The next few weeks I drank and drank and drank so much water.  However, just a few weeks later I was back in the hospital for low fluid levels but it was more complicated due to Graham having the umbilical cord wrapped twice around his neck.  The doctor was to see me the next day and see if I was going home or not.  The fluid levels did not go up and instead went down and the doctor announced "we are having a baby tomorrow."    My doctor then came into my room and gave me a high five. Game on.

 

The next day, 12/12/12, Graham was born at 2:36 PM.  He was 6 lbs 8 oz and 20 inches.  The mother anxiety came just as quick as he did.  It seemed like his first cry took forever to come. He was whisked away to do all the newborn procedures and then given to his dad. I was crying and crying and all I could say is "he is so small."

 

People had told me to expect a hormone shift but seriously, seriously.  What the heck happened to me?  For the next week and a half I was a mess.  I was sure that Graham would disintegrate due to lack of food and I was not able to sleep due to the anxiety of it all.  I remember at one point telling Trent "I can't sleep.  There is too much to learn."  I had even read all the books beforehand.  Plus, I did not like the hospital.  Fifty million people come in and out of your room all day and night - how is someone supposed to sleep.  Trent was a champion.  He seriously is the greatest man in the world.  He was supportive without letting me know that I was acting crazy.  Luckily, I had some great friends that talked me through it all and I am doing much better.  Still sleep deprived but happily sleep deprived.

 

 

 

 

 

Three days later we were home.  Yay!

 

We are so happy to have our little guy and I still sometimes freak out about when some new situation comes up.  We are doing well and we are happy!