Well she has arrived!!! Elliot Cascade Cook was born at 2:41 pm on May 10th 2015 This was the best Mother's Day present anyone could ask for. She was 8 pounds 2 ounces, 20 inches long.
My due date was May 9th. At this point Grandma Weis had joined us in Oregon and was helping distract me. I was VERY ready to meet out baby (we hadn't decided on a name yet) at this point. On May 9th it felt like something had changed, every time I walked I would have tightening/contraction for the entire walk. Something felt different but I didn't want to get my hopes up, after all many first time moms go past 41 weeks! I spent most of the beautiful sunny day in the backyard, doing yard work, and walking. By dinner time, there were no contractions so Mac, my mother and I went to Garden Vineyards for a picnic to celebrate mothers day the next day...just in case we loaded the car.
We had a beautiful picnic at the vineyard! Getting back into the car I felt a small "pop", but definitely not the "gush of fluid" that people mention with breaking your water. Over the next few hours at home it kept happening with some fluid. Without contractions I was hesitant to call in but Mac made me. Mac knew something was different when I agreed to watch "The Avengers" with him. By the time they told us to come in to see if my water had broke I was having contractions.
By the time we got to the hospital my contractions were intense every 3-7 minutes, very erratic. I made Mac stand outside with me for the contraction to pass before I entered through the ER (it was near midnight) just in case I saw any co-workers.
When we got in, they confirmed my bag had ruptured, just not the classic gush of fluid. They put us in a L&D room and so our journey began. I had envisioned laboring at home for hours...maybe next time ;) I spent the next 6 hours in the tub, the warm water really helped the contractions. Walking, the birth ball, ect made the discomfort of the contractions too intense, all I could do is lean over the edge of the tub. Mac and my mother would check to make sure I was still breathing, I think I feel asleep through many parts of this stage.
When they finally checked 6 hours later I was 8 cm! Mac, grandma Weis and I were all sure Elli was coming in the next few hours. Later we found that Elliot was OP or rotated the wrong way. This is why I was having "back labor." Unfortunately since she was rotated it took 5 hours to get to 10 cm!!! This was by far the hardest time for me, the back pressure was very intense and the only thing that helped was standing leaning forward...so I stood leaning over for hours. They started talking about further interventions like pitocin since I wasn't progressing. Luckily, she finally she rotated and I got to 10 cm. I pushed for 2 hours. Elli was born with a tight umbilical cord at 2:41 pm. Her initial Apgar was 6, she didn't take a breath right away and they had to call for extra help...luckily her next Apgar was 9 and she was doing great a few minutes later.
We were blessed to have a completely natural childbirth with no interventions. She was born on May 10, 2015 which happened to be Mother's Day, what a great gift! Mac was amazing and so supportive. He was calm and supportive. My mother, grandma Weis was also incredibly helpful, supportive and a huge asset during this time. I had a great team of people around me! After delivery I was starving! Apparently ginger ale and peanut butter stuffed pretzels was the key...I will remember this for next time. The hospital was great. They gave us lots of family time and never tried to take Elli out of the room or away from us for measurements, ect.
Eventually Elliot weighed in at 8 lbs 2 ounces, 20 inches.
What an amazing experience! We were so excited to be new parents and Elliot is perfect!
Crystal, Mac, and Elliot
