Baby Nathan is here. He arrived at 5:21 am on July 24, Pioneer Day. 7 lbs 2.5 ounces and 21 inches long.
I had consistent contractions Sunday night that got consistently stronger but not super painful. They lasted all night till I fell asleep at 5 am when they must have stopped because I slept till 7 and woke up feeling nothing. I thought things might begin happening during the day, but nothing. Then, Tuesday night the contractions came on again at night. They got to be 10 minutes apart and progressively stronger and more painful. But again, I fell asleep around 5am because they must have stopped and woke up in the morning feeling nothing. I kept getting my hopes up and then feeling discouraged.
So Wednesday night I climb in bed and wait for Nate to get home. He got home around 10:30 at night from work and church and came to tell me about his day. He said he watched a YouTube video about acupuncture that induces labor and proceeded to show me what he learned. He started massaging and pressing pressure points on my left shin and ankle. About 2 minutes later I feel a POP and a gush! My water had broken. Acupuncture works?!! Crazy timing!
So about 12:00 midnight we headed up to Auburn to the Auburn Birthing Center with our bags packed. Contractions began almost immediately after my water broke and were painful and consistent. Each bump on the road induced another hard contraction. So I was already in quite a bit of pain by the time we arrived.
Stephanie had already birthed two babies earlier that day. She is a busy woman! But she was ready and happy for a third of the day when we called in at midnight. I was dilated to 4 centimeters, so I still had a ways to go. I got a dose of antibiotics and just continued in labor. Contractions got stronger and hurt terribly. After a while I got to be 6.5 centimeters and fully effaced. Baby was at 0 station. I continued walking to allow gravity to help, but got dizzy and nauseaus. So I got into the jacuzzi tub with jets for relief. It definitely dulled the pain. It felt like the contractions had slowed or spread apart, but Stephanie said that is what is perceived because the jets help hide the constant cramping and the beginning and end of the contractions. So it definitely brought relief. But is was there that baby was quickly making his way downward. I could feel the changes. I was so exhausted a at this time that I was literally falling asleep in between hard contractions. Then the pain got so intense. Stephanie scrubbed up. She said we were really close. That gave me motivation. This was almost over. Nate had some inspirational music playing that also gVe me strength. I was praying in my head, calling on my Father in Heaven to help me get through this. I knew it would all be done in less than 10 minutes and I knew I could give my all for ten minutes. I pushed hard, with all my might, energy as well as voice. Baby was turned a bit, so once his head was out, Stephanie had to help spin him a bit. A couple more hard pushes and our baby was here and the pain was done.
And he was perfect. It was so surreal to look and him and wonder how he had just been inside of me, and now he was here in my arms. It felt like I was dreaming. A very surreal experience. Because we had not planned on this pregnancy, it was more surreal than ever. But this little guy was determined to come to earth, and motivated to join our family. I have no doubt that he has a great work to accomplish in this world, because nothing was going to stop him from making his entrance. The name Nathan means "a gift from God" which is fitting because he truly was a gift given to us from God, Gods will that he came to us at this time.
Since baby and mama were doing well, we were able to go home around noon. Grandma Hutchinson was home with the kids and couldn't believe we were home already. The kids were all so excited and had gotten blue flowers and wrote out a card.
We consulted with the kids on a final decision for his name. All the kids were dead set on Baby Nathan. Ever since I was a teenager, Nathan was on my list of baby names. And who better to name him after than his wonderful daddy, a beautiful example of love, service, and success.
Baby Nathan was born on "Pioneer Day," a holiday honoring the LatterDay Saint pioneers that crossed the plains and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. Nathan has LDS pioneer heritage from the Martin Handcart Company. His great great great great grandfather was James Godson Blake. He brought his family from England to join the pioneer trek. His family was promised in a blessing that their whole family would make it to Utah. At one point James had gotten so I'll that they left him on the trail and moved on. Remembering their family's promise, they went back for him and nursed him back to health. His toes were frostbitten so terribly that he couldn't walk, but had to be pulled by his family in the handcart. He was unable to walk for a long time, but their whole family did indeed make it to the Salt Lake Valley and their promise was fulfilled. Baby Nathan's middle name is Blake, so his whole name has a whole lot of meaning and purpose. We love him so very much. Welcome to the family, little one.
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