Luke's Birth Story

I love birth stories.

Each one is so different & unique.
My birth story with Luke actually begins on Monday, August 6th when I got a call from my doctor letting me know they just found out his daughter got into Texas Christian and therefore, he would be out of town from Friday the 10th until Monday the 13th.
*My due date was Tuesday August 14th*
He called to let me know this and to let me know that he tried to schedule an induction for me that week, but the hospital was full for inductions (they only allow a certain amount of inductions per day).

When he called me on Monday morning, he told me that he wanted to be able to deliver my baby and that we needed to discuss my options for what we wanted to do.

My options were:
1. Wait to be induced on my due date when he was back from Texas
OR
2. Come into his office that day (Monday) so he could strip my membranes in hopes of getting labor started before he went to Texas.
He induced me with both girls right around my due date because I have big babies & wanted to induce me for the 3rd time because this baby was also measuring big. He didn't think I would go into labor on my own (since I never had) but he didn't want me to go to my due date since this baby was also a big one.We both agreed that option #2 was the best.
I didn't want to wait to be induced because what if I went into labor when he was out of town?!?!
That thought alone freaked me out.
I LOVE my doctor. He goes to our church, lead a high school small group with Kevin a couple years ago, he saved my tube when I had an ectopic pregnancy and there is no other doctor I trust.
I never have a birth plan. My birth plan is whatever he says to do.

So, Monday afternoon, I head to his office to get my membranes stripped.
(which is trying to separate your bag of water from your cervix)
Ouch.
I was at 3 cm & he told me to walk a lot that evening in hopes that my body would go into labor, but if I didn't go into labor then to come in again on Tuesday morning & he would strip my membranes again.
I walked a little over a mile that evening.
I took a "final" belly picture just in case I went into labor that night.
Can't believe there was a 9 lb 6 oz baby in there!
I woke up Tuesday morning & was not in labor at all, so I went back to the Dr's.
He checked me and said I was about 3.5 cm and then he stripped my membranes again (Super Ouch) and he said to go walking again.
So, I walked 3.5 miles after my appointment while pushing the girls in my double jogger.
My Dr. said if I STILL didn't go into labor then to come into his office AGAIN on Wednesday afternoon. He would keep trying to squeeze me into the hospital for an induction.
He said to come to his office on Wednesday afternoon because hopefully all the Wednesday inductions would be over by then & the hospital might be able to get me in.
He said to pack my hospital bag...just in case.
I woke up Wednesday morning, not in labor.
This was the forecast for the week. Not the forecast you like to see at 39 weeks pregnant.

It was going to be a HOT week.
But, I was determined to get this party started, so in 95 degree weather on Wednesday morning, I walked another 4.5 miles with the girls. I was for sure having light contractions, so I was feeling hopeful that all this walking would be helping dilate me or something!
I went to my appointment late Wednesday afternoon & my doctor checked me....and I was STILL 3.5 cm. All that walking did nothing. Ugh. My doctor was shocked that stripping my membranes twice had done nothing. Right then, he called the hospital to see if they could get me an induction. They said if I could be there in an hour, I had a spot. So, I called Kevin and told him to meet me at the hospital, it was Induction time!
Here I am on Wednesday at 4:30 pm ready to check into the hospital.

5:o0 pm, getting situated. Let's meet this baby!
5:30 pm, pitocin has started...Let's get this party started!
6:00 pm. My doctor checks me, I am STILL at 3.5 cm, 60% effaced and - 3 station.
He breaks my water.

We turn on the TV and guess what is on? One of our favorite shows, FRIENDS!
And, it just so happens that it is the episode where Rachel is in labor!

Because this episode was on, I thought it was a "sign" that we were having a girl.
We had a girl name all picked out (Charlotte) until a few weeks ago, when Kevin decided that he didn't like that name & he wanted to go with our 2nd choice girl name, Emma.
Because I picked Claire's name, it was his turn to pick the name, so I said it could be Emma.
Since this episode was on while I was in labor, I thought it was a sign that we were having a girl & it was ironic since Rachel & Ross named their baby Emma.

7:30 pm I am STILL 3.5 cm (I was stuck at 3 cm with Claire for over 7 hours, so I was thinking this would be the same situation) I decided to walk around the hospital because, maybe that would help get things going.
We walked for 30 minutes & I was for sure feeling the contractions. They were getting stronger & closer together. I knew that the walking was going to help speed things up.
We started watching the Olympics & my nurse said she would check me at 9:30.
I had a popsicle for dinner & timed my contractions.
The nurse checked me at 9:45 pm.
I was STILL a 3.5 but contractions were coming full force, every 2 minutes and lasting between 30-45 seconds. I was feeling them FOR SURE.
When I was induced with the girls I got my epidural at 5 cm & really never felt the contractions, but this time...I was feeling them.
The nurse asked when I wanted my epidural & told me the anesthesiologist was giving them to 4 other patients, and asked if I wanted to be added to her list. I said, Yes!
So, we kept watching the Olympics and by the time it was my turn to get the epidural, it was 11:15 pm and I was dilated to 8 cm!!!!
After I got the epidural...Thank you sweet baby Jesus for epidurals.
We called our families around 11:30 to let them know I was at an 8, so they might want to come to the hospital.
My doctor came to the hospital a little after midnight & when he checked me at 12:15, I was at 10 cm and we could start pushing.
We were still waiting for our family to get there, so I asked if we could wait a few minutes until they arrived because I wanted to say hi to everyone first :)
Our families arrive at 12:30 and we chat for a little bit, but then I start feeling the urge to push, so we sent them to the waiting room.
At 12:48 I started pushing.
(Right before my last push)
4 pushes later, at 1:01 am Luke was born!
It's a BOY!!!!!!!!!!

This is why I love not finding out what we are having....This is the moment I look forward to for 9 months!

I was SHOCKED it was a BOY!

I kept saying over and over again, "This is crazy! I can't believe it's a Boy!"

Can't believe I have a son!

So happy he is here.

Our little, but big guy. Ummmm....his head was huge. 37 cm. Yowza.

Getting Luke weighed. I thought he would be high 8's.
Couldn't believe he was 9 lbs 6 oz (Claire was also 9 lb 6 oz)

Holding his son for the first time. Kevin was also in shock.

It was then time for our families to come in.
When we had the girls, Kevin went out to the waiting room & got to say "It's a Girl"
But, this time I said that I wanted to be the one to announce it.
So, we had everyone come into the room & I got to say, "It's Luke!"

The moment I said, "It's Luke!"
As you can see, our families were shocked also. They all thought it was going to be another girl!

With our doctor. Love that guy! So glad he was able to get me in. Can you imagine if I waited 6 more days until my due date? Luke would have been a 10 lb baby!!!

Still in shock :)

This was my easiest delivery yet. I was induced all 3 times, but this one was the quickest and I had the easiest recovery...only a small tear.
(Kate was a 3rd degree tear & Claire was a 2nd degree tear)

Then it was time to head over to post partum.

Luke getting ready for his footprints & hospital bath.

He does not like being nakey.

All bundled up & clean.
A few hours later, at 8 am, we face timed with the girls (who were at Grandma's) so we could tell them they had a brother.

They were so excited! A few hours later, they came to the hospital to meet Luke.
They were smitten.
First family photo:

I stayed at the hospital 2 nights.
I did not want to leave. The nurses were awesome & we were having a heat wave of 100+ weather, so I happily stayed in the air conditioned hospital room :)

On Saturday the 11th, we headed home.

All loaded up in his carseat.

Obligatory hospital picture:

We were welcomed home with signs on our garage, balloons and family & some neighbors waiting for us.

Home Sweet Home.

Larson, Party of 5.