Lincoln's Birth Story

At my 38 and 39 week appointments the doctors mentioned the option of induction. At first I said, "no! no!" We had never even had to consider induction before! Landon was born at exactly 37 weeks and Owen was born at exactly 38 weeks! But Lincoln was just hanging out! The day after my 39 week appt when I was actually 39 weeks 4 days, I couldn't sleep wondering if Linc was ever going to come on his own. We probably would have been more patient, but my spring break was coming up, and I had been counting on that week for a bonus week of maternity leave. So that next day I decided to call and talk to my doctor. Once again, they said that being over 39 weeks, already 3 cm dilated, effaced, and this being my third baby, they were completely fine with inducing and could do it on Thursday or Friday if we wished. I went home and talked it through with Philip, then called back the next day (Wednesday) to let the doctors know that we would like to induce... the next day!

The great thing about inducing was that everyone could prepare and arrive for the birth. Both my parents and Barbara drove up Wednesday night. I was so nervous at first, but managed to calm myself down throughout the day. We took the boys to a soccer game at Philip's school, then came home and read books (the boys' new favorite Alligator Baby and their baby books) and talked to the boys about Lincoln coming the next day. Somehow I managed to sleep through the night, and Philip and I headed to the hospital at 6 a.m. knowing that at some point in the day we would have a baby!!

Barbara stayed at home with the boys and kept them happy, calm, and entertained. Then she brought them up to meet their brother after their naps. My parents spent the day with us at the hospital, keeping us entertained and helping to keep me comfortable.

They started the pitocin at about 7:30, and at first Philip and I were pretty bored. Both of the other boys were born in under 5 hours from my water breaking at home, to holding the boys in our arms, so we were surprised to be a little bored waiting for the action to begin. At about 10:45, I was dilated to 4-5 cm, so they gave me the epidural and broke my water. That's when things got real! I was concerned that Philip hadn't eaten all day and for some reason felt in my head like things were going slow, so I insisted that he run to Canes with my dad to get something to eat. Haha! While he was gone, I was feeling a lot of pain primarily on my left side. My mom was so sweet comforting me and rubbing my head the whole time. The nurse said I had a hot spot on my left side, and she also thought things were probably moving pretty fast for my body. She checked me and I was already at a 7, so my mom texted the boys that they better hurry back. They raced back and Philip never even ate anything!

Basically as soon as Philip got back I burst into tears. The nurse felt like my pain level and emotional state probably meant that I was ready to push so she checked me again, and she was right!

I pushed for about 30 minutes, and at 1:05, Lincoln Jacob was born! We were so happy he arrived swiftly and safely, and we loved him from the second we saw him!