Avery is here!!! I can't even believe that he is a week old today. Before I know it he will be 18 and leaving for college. This time last week they had just laid my new little bundle of joy on my chest for the first time...what a sweet memory. Speaking of memories here is a recap of Avery's arrival. Last Wednesday the 27th I started having contractions but nothing regular or with a pattern. On Thursday they started becoming more regular but then would fade away, until around 5pm when the contractions started to become a little uncomfortable and were coming around 7mins apart. I tried to go the bed with the contractions about 5-7mins apart but that just wasn't happening. Around 2am I got up to go to the bathroom and discovered that I was having some bright red bleeding which concerned me. I called my doctor and she didn't seem concerned and said it was probably just my cervix opening (sorry for all the details) but that I could come in and get checked if I wanted too. Well, I didn't want to drive all the way to Asheville for them to tell me it was nothing and I wasn't in labor yet. I debated for about and hour whether to go or not and finally convinced myself I should head on over. We got there around 5am and I was still bleeding a small amount so they called the doctor to come in and check me. The doctor said the bleeding was nothing to be concerned about but that it was good that I came in cause I was 6cm dilated and 80% effaced, she said "you are having this baby today!".
They admitted me to a regular room because they told me they didn't have any birthing tubs available. My and my mother walked the halls for about 30-45mins and as soon as the day shift nurse came on around 8am I asked again about getting a room with a tub and she gladly moved me to what they called "water world". I immediately got in the tub which helped to ease the contractions. I had an incredible nurse at Mission, so helpful and such a calming presence. I told her from the beginning that I wanted a natural birth and she never once pressured me or even asked me if I wanted something for pain. Mission is what they call a "baby friendly" hospital so they support natural childbirth and breast feeding. Anyway around 11am the contractions started becoming harder and lasting longer...whew I can remember it vividly. By about 12:45 I was ready to start pushing so the doctor came in and gave the ok. Thank goodness for me I only pushed for 30mins and out came sweet little Avery Jaxon. Zac was awesome, encouraging me and supporting me the whole time. He was also VERY fascinated by the whole process and didn't miss a thing during the delivery, and he got to cut the cord which made him so happy.
Oh, Avery is calling (crying) so more to come later... :
