I had a baby BOY! His name is Daniel Grant. He was born at 4:53 a.m. on Saturday October 28^th. He weighed 10 lbs, 9 oz and was 21 ¼” long.
My official due date was October 26^th. I had an OB appt that day. It was the same story – hardly dilated and a little effaced. We talked about inducing on the 31^st, because Deren was starting his new job the next day. Dr. Bass hooked me up to the monitor for 30 mins. The baby was fine, and Deren pointed out that I was having contractions. By the time my appt was over and I registered at the hospital, I had to race home to take my 5 yr old to have a MRI. I was having contractions all the way home to pick him up, but they stopped after we arrived at the imaging place. Traditionally, my contractions have come to a screeching halt when I’m stressed out. And my 5 yr old was manic and hard to control before the procedure, and beside himself when he woke up 2 hrs later. I don’t know how I let my husband talk me into taking my son for a MRI on my due date! Anyway, that was the end of my contractions.

The next day, Friday, I did not have any contractions during the day, and planned to run errands the following day. About 1:00 a.m. Saturday morning my 3 yr old daughter called for me to come lay down with her in her room. I settled down on the couch in her room, hoping to go back to sleep. But I noticed I was having contractions again. I laid there for awhile, trying not to get too excited, because I figured the contractions would stop again. After about ½ hour of pretty regular, but not painful, contractions, I woke Deren up – I thought I should wait and let him sleep, but I was too excited after all! I went and laid down in our bedroom, and Deren started timing the contractions. They wore about 4 mins apart, and picking up in intensity. I called my doula, Sherry. I decided to stay in bed while Deren got ready and packed the car, which I figured would take about an hour – Deren has one speed. He brushed his teeth, he coordinated his belt and shoes, he styled his hair. At the end of the hour I told him he had minutes to go before I started throwing things at him! I had called Dr. Bass. She said to come to the hospital.

We got to the hospital around 3 a.m. I was 5-6 cm dilated and 100% effaced. Dr. Bass and my doula got there about the same time – shortly before 4 a.m. Dr. Bass stayed in the room the whole time - she had went downstairs to eat lunch at the last birth and I had the baby before she could get back to the 2nd floor! She had the nurse bring in the delivery table/equipment soon after I arrived. Meanwhile, the longest contraction I was having was about 45 sec (Sherry was timing it. She kept saying they weren't long enough. I was about ready to get nasty because they were hurting so much - 45 secs or not!). I told Dr. Bass I was started to feel pressure (like needing to go to the bathroom). She checked me. I was 9 cm, and my bag of water was still intact. Another couple contractions and I was fully dilated. Dr. Bass broke my water and I started to push. I figured I was really tired at that point, because I've never had such a hard time pushing. I didn't push long - about 10 mins. But it HURT, and everyone was telling me to push harder (I thought I was pushing plenty hard). I was totally shocked when they weighed him and he was 10 lbs, 9 oz. Even the dr had thought maybe 9 lbs, and my husband and I were thinking smaller, based on my prior babies.

In closing, he looks like such a BOY! I had become used to petite girl babies. This little guy looks like he needs a pair of overalls and a new name of Bubba!