Becket Roger Lockhart: The Birth

For some reason I love to write out my children's birth stories years later.  If we have anymore I will try do it while I'm in the hospital or something.  Then again, I may not.  I am full of the best intentions and lack follow through.

For those of you reading two years ago you may have remember that Chris was out of the state for the last two months of my pregnancy.  He was taking an Army leadership course and graduation was on Becket's due date September 26th.  My mom flew up to New York a few days before my due date and stayed a week.  All of my kids prior had been three to four days late so I felt like it was likely I would have the baby while she was there.

Muma arrived!

I had an appoint that day and was four centimeters dilated. She said I would likely have the baby in the next 24 hours.  And sure enough I did.  After the appointment I was having contractions, light and manageable.  We went home to wait it out.  I napped while Mom took the kids for a walk.  

Chris graduated from his course and hit the road.  He did take a detour to DC on his way home.  We were texting here and there as he drove home and overall he made pretty good time.  He showed up at the house around midnight chatted briefly and headed to bed.  I got in the bath and timed the contractions I was having.  They were still weak but closer together.

Waiting for Chris to get home...so a dressed up!

About 1:30 am there was a significant change.  All the prior contractions felt like Braxton Hicks these were stronger (not terrible just stronger) and about five minutes apart. Chris didn't get any sleep.  We told my mom we were leaving and headed to the hospital.

Unlike my other pregnancies, I had zero pain between contractions this time.  For a solid five minutes, maybe more I was able to talk, walk, and breathe without a problem for a pregnant lady.  So in the labor and delivery room I was telling the nurses at the nurses station that I was a little bummed because I'm use to coming in and 30 minutes later having a baby.  It didn't appear that was going to be the case this time. 

It was about 2:30 am and I was taken into the delivery room.  The nurse was a lovely lady, but super chatty and seemed to be taking her time with the normal procedures.  I went the bathroom to change.  As I was walking to the bed I had a contraction that was painful and I knew we had just entered the last phase of labor.  

I was check and only 7 cm dilated.  I was bummed since Amelia was 9 on her first check and Simon was 8.  Though it was still better than Owen's 4.  There was that.

The nurse tried getting the monitor on my belly and I smacked her hand away.  My belly was more sore than normal, apparently.  I reacted.  It's not usually like me.  The doctor offered to break my water and I agreed.  Contractions got worse, and within minutes I was able to push.  

The doctor directed me to push more efficiently and I did.  I pushed five or six times and he began to crown.  It was a circle of fire!  All I could think was this next contraction was going to be the last because OMG Becky, that was terrible.  And sure enough it was!  At 3:20 am the doctor put him on my belly and waited to cut the cord like I asked.  He waited there gleefully because he could not wait to weigh Becket.  He said his biggest vaginal delivery was 10 lbs 6 oz.  I was like, dude I broke that record...that was the weight of my smallest kid.

Chris was quiet, supportive, and tired.  I know I had just delivered a baby...but he had been up for nearly 24 hours.  We admired Becket and they did all the measurements in the room.  Becket Roger Lockhart was 11 lbs 6 oz and 22 inches long.  It was after 4 o'clock and Chris was trying really hard to stay awake.  I told him to take a nap since I couldn't.

Becuase, I felt it should be documented

Eventually we were moved to a maternity room where we both slept.  Around 9:00 Chris headed to the house to pick up my mom and the kids.  The stay was relaxed.

I promise, Chris smiles sometimes...

I could have stayed an extra day (and I would have) but I wanted to get home and visit with my mom before she headed back to NC.

I would like to add that I LOVE the newborn stage.  After having a baby I want to have another one because I know that the new born stage is so fleeting.  It took 24 hours for me to recover from the "circle of fire" that I experienced with Becket.

Welcome to the world Becket...2 years later.  We are so glad you're here!

He's wearing a diaper!!!!

Owen's birth story.
Amelia's birth story.
Simon's birth story. 

Simon Paul Lockhart: The Birth

Simon Paul Lockhart 10-26-2012

Better late than never, right?  Three years ago I was full term with our third (likely over ten pound) baby.  Simon was due on his sister's birthday.  I was miserable and was hoping to have him early.  But I was relieved when Amelia's birthday was over and Simon hadn't arrived.  I was hoping to go early, but going late to avoid sharing a birthday with is sister was fine with me.

Throughout the month Chris had several assignments that kept him away from the house.  He completed a gunnery, family day (the kids and I were able to attend the family day), NCO stuff, and tending to the arms room.

39 weeks with Simon.

I was warned that Chris had to go to the arms room early in the morning so I wasn't surprised at 5:00am when I woke up and he wasn't there.  The contractions weren't painful but they were steady.  My go to pregnancy remedy is get into the tub.  Around 5:30 Chris was home, and I told him we needed to head to the hospital.

While Chris was getting Owen and Amelia dressed I gave my friend Moriah a call.  Owen and her son were in the same preschool class, and she was willing to drop him off for us.  I called my friend Erin to see if I could drop off Amelia since we would pass by her house on the way to the hospital.  Both friends obliged and we continued to get ourselves into the van.

It was about 7:00 am and we had just dropped off Amelia when I gave the OB a call.  The lady on the phone told us to take our time, a shower would be nice, and to come to the OB office not the ER because labor and delivery was pretty full.  You see, we are in a military town and husbands had returned home about a year ago.  Actually, there was a mom from Owen's class that went into labor the same day as me.  Anyway, maybe I should have called before we left the house, but we were already on our way.  Amelia came so quickly, I didn't think it was a good idea to go back home.  We stopped to fill the car up with gas and went to the OB office, which was at the hospital.

At about 7:30 am I walked in and said my name and I had a contraction.  They rushed me to an exam room, I think mostly not to worry the soon to be moms in their waiting room.  The doctor that checked me determined that I was eight centimeters.  The nurse said, "do not break her water."  I think he was new and if not a student pretty fresh out of school.  I was put into a wheel chair and rushed to the very full L&D.  Not only was it a military season of having babies, but L&D was under construction.

Around 8:00am I was put in shared room with another lady who was having contractions monitored.  I remember I had two nurses trying to have me admitted.  So while I was handling contractions one lady was asking questions, while the other was doing bracelets and IVs.  Mostly what I remember is a sea of faces.  It was a tiny half of a room.  The midwife had a student under her wing and so did the nurses.  My husband was back against the wall, once they realized that he was by my side.  Another midwife remembered me from an appointment and asked if she could watch.  Sure, the more the merrier!

We forgot the camera again.

Fatherhood always looks good on him.

At one point I was told I could move to a delivery room.  I said no, let's just have this baby.  So we did.  After breaking my water Simon was here in three easy pushes.  After three and half hours of labor Simon arrived at 9:01am weighing 10 pounds 10 ounces and 21.5 inches long.  The first thing Chris said when he saw Simon was "where are his cheeks!" The older two had very full faces, and by comparison Simon did not.

Really, he doesn't have cheeks compared to Owen and Amelia.

Simon has brought (and is still bringing) a new dynamic to our home.  Pretty sure mine and Chris's sanctification is largely riding on this guy.  He's trying and affectionate.  Stubborn and caring.  Demanding and imaginative. I'm honored that we have been entrusted with this spirited soul!

#3, priorities.

"Mom pictures" of me are usually so..eh.
But there is something about this one I like.

Hello world!

Owen's birth story.
Amelia's birth story.
Becket's birth story.

Amelia Rose Lockhart: The Birth

I know I am writing this three and a half years later...and I still have one to write for Simon, but really want to type out all of my birth stories.  Detail may have already been lost and ten years from now even more may be lost.  So, I will try to do it now before I forget more details.

26 weeks with Amelia

Amelia was due October 19th 2010 and October 11th (ish) 2010 began deployment of Chris's unit to Afghanistan.  The kids and I would going to NC to wait out most of the deployment which meant we were also in the process of moving out of our home.  Most of our furniture was either in NC or in storage by the end of September.   Chris and I were sleeping on and air mattress in the living room while Owen was in a pack n play in his room until he figured out how to climb out of it.  All while I was nine months pregnant with baby likely to be over ten pounds.

The boys rubbing my feet. Livin' on an air mattress for a month.

Most of September and October was filled with Braxton Hicks contractions.  Almost every night I would time them, but they were never closer than 10 minutes apart.  Our focus was trying to get this baby out so she could meet her dad before he deployed.  On October 22nd, Chris came home from work saying that his unit was talking about putting him and rear-detachment.  Long story short, he would stay behind until the baby arrived.  As appealing as that sounds, there are lots of reasons why we didn't want him to stay.  One reason being that we had to clear housing October 25th and we wouldn't have a home.  When Chris came home he said I HAVE to have the baby this weekend.  No pressure or anything right?

39 weeks with Amelia

We Googled every wives tale we could find and took a trip to Walmart.  I bought some castor oil and pineapple juice to chase it, and I had already been using evening primrose oil for two weeks.  The castor oil was labeled odorless and tasteless.  Pineapple is another one of those wives tales so I gave it a try. We came home and the bottle sat there.  Eventually I took the castor oil.  Side note: not nearly as terrible as I thought it was going to be, but definitely not something I enjoyed. I took a dose around 7 pm and by 11 pm there and been no changes.  Everything was the same.  Around midnight before going to sleep I took one more dose.

At 3 am I woke up to relieve the bladder and I noticed the air mattress had deflated some.  There was a hole that was leaking slowly.  Around 5 am I woke up again needing to use the bathroom again and this time the mattress was flat.  I woke Chris up, asked him to fill it up because I was sore from sleeping on the floor.  We got ourselves comfortable, I closed my eyes and felt a small gush of liquid.  I nudged Chris saying I think my water broke.  It was about 5:30 am.  I wasn't completely sure because it wasn't tons of fluid, but within a few minutes the contractions began quite strong.

We made all the the calls, dropped Owen at a friend's house, and headed to the hospital.  Chris was not at Owen's birth so he was in a bit of a hurry and I assured him we had time.  I figured we would have the baby around 4 pm.  We don't need to have to run around like a bat out of hell.  The hospital is about 20-30 minutes away and my contractions we a bit intense.  They were coming steady and we weren't timing them.  I would guess about every two minutes.  We parked in the parking deck.  I told Chris I didn't mind walking that will help move the labor along.  The contractions were coming and caused me to stop a few times walking to the hospital.

6:20 am we were checking in and I was rolled up to Labor and Delivery.  As we approach what I assume was the nursing station to sign some papers I stood up, a contraction began, and I had the sudden need to push.   They quickly moved me to a room, got me undressed, and check me.  The clock said 6:45 am so I was starting to guess that maybe the baby would be here between 12 and 3.

Once I was checked they informed me that I was already 9 cm dilated.  I was told I could push if I wanted and I did.   The midwife suggested getting on my hands and knees because Amelia was sunny side up.  She eventually flipped.  I remember being hot and feeling like I might pass out.  They gave me some O2.  It helped but I was still hot.  The midwife was great, pretty much letting me labor however I felt comfortable.  Her only request was for me to straighten out on the bed so Amelia wouldn't hit the floor when she was pushed out.

I probably started pushing around 7:00am and she was here at 7:31 am.  So, all of my estimations were completely wrong.  Amelia did not waste any time.  And after 2 quick hours she was here.

Unlike Owen, I was pretty well rested, but just like Owen I was hyped up on adrenaline. My camera was left at home so all we had were our cell phones.  We did our best.  Amelia was cleaned up and brought back to me very quickly. More quickly that Owen was.  They also left her in the room with me even if I was sleeping, which they did not let me do with Owen.  Both of which I preferred.

October 23rd 2010 at 7:31am 10 lbs 11 oz 22 in

Chris spent a good deal of time working since he was the armor and he had to finish cleaning our house since we were clearing housing in two days.  Actually Chris cleared housing Monday the 25th and then came to the hospital to pick me up.  I had been so focused on the on the pregnancy I had not had the chance to really dwell on the deployment.  Chris left on November 3rd for a year long deployment and the next day we headed to NC to wait it out.  Our lives have been forever changed because of Amelia Rose Lockhart.

Owen's birth story.

Simon's birth story.

Becket's birth story.

Owen Clarence Lockhart: The Birth

Where has the day gone? It is now 8 o'clock and I have yet to begin my post for the 7 day 7 post challenge over at Conversion Diary with Jennifer. 

And I have no idea what I want to share with you guys today. So after referring back to that topics I brainstormed, I decided to type out Owen's birth story.  So here we go.

39 weeks with Owen

On March 2nd, 2009 with snow on the ground, I was three days past my due date, but I didn't care.  Chris was at Basic Combat Training so I had convinced myself the longer I was pregnant the younger our son would be when he met his dad.  I remember being really tired and taking a nap.  I hadn't heard from Chris in a while so I was pleasantly surprised when I woke up to a phone call from him around 7:30pm.  He told me how he had won a 20 minute phone call by answering a question correctly.  I was a little relieved to hear from him.  I didn't know what the future held.  Giving birth, at the time, seemed a little frightening.  Really it was the fear of the unknown.  How painful was it??  That 20 minute conversation was enough to push down some of the anxiety.  Once we said our goodbyes I went to the kitchen, filled up my "ice cup" for the trillionth time, returned to my room to write a letter to Chris as I had done every night since he left.  Around 11 o'clock I rolled over in the bed to go back to sleep.  At 11:30 felt the first of many contractions.

I began timing them.  The were 10-20 minutes apart and not too painful.  I decided I probably needed some sleep. At 4:00 am I woke up to a stronger contraction. I timed them again.  Still about 10 minutes apart and since I was starting to feel uncomfortable I decided to fill the bath tub.  The warm water helped with the discomfort.  I would refill the tub when the water would become cold.  I did this until about 6:30.  I started timing them again.  From 6:30 to 7:30 the contractions went from 5 minutes apart to 2 minutes apart.  They were lasting for about a minute and were starting to take my breath away.  I woke up my mom and told her that it was going to be today and then I called Dr. Dorn.  After speaking to me he told me to head to the hospital.  We get to the hospital and as they are getting me into the system my mom french braided my hair on either side so no loss strands would annoy me.  At about 9:30 I was taken up to Labor and Delivery.

I put on a gown and was check. I was dilated at 4.5 cm.  The nurse informed me that was pretty good for my first baby.  I continued to walk and rock and sway through my contraction, but the back labor was not ceasing and my exhaustion was taking its toll.  I could not relax between contraction anymore.  The thought of a needle in my spin scared me, but something had to give.  When the nurse came in to check me again I was at 7 cm and I spoke with her about some kind of relief.  I really don't know the name, but it was a muscle relaxer.  It was just enough.  I could still feel my contraction but it took the edge off my back between them.  I was actually able to get some sleep.  I had various visitors my mom, my dad, my mother-in-law, my sister, and my friend Libby.  My mom, my mother-in-law and Libby remained in the room to make sure my needs were met.  My dilation continued to 8.5 cm and stalled.  My water had not broke and they asked if I would like them to break at about 4:00pm they broke my water and my contractions became more intense.  I quickly became fully dilated and was given the go to push if I felt like I needed to push.

So I pushed, and I pushed and I pushed.

They brought out a mirror so I could watch, but if you know me...I don't handle medical situations very well.  I don't know if I was trying to be polite, but I never mentioned that I preferred not to watch.  So the mirror stayed.  I continued to push until everyone around me told me to look down.  Owen was halfway out and I could see his swollen face covered in goo.  At 6:06 pm with one final push he was here.  They laid him on my belly for a while before cutting the cord.  Everyone was eager to measure him since he was quite large. Eventually he was taken to the other side of the room as I was being stitched up.

March 3, 2009 at 6:06 pm 10lbs 6 oz 22 in

He was 10 lbs 6 oz and 22 inches long with a powerful set of lungs.  And he was AWESOME.  I was in love with him from the moment I knew I was pregnant.

I devoured my cold food.  And was left wanting more.  I was moved to my room.  I was really weak and could not walk without assistance.  I later found out I lost three time the amount of blood that I should have lost.  I had some visitors who came and went.  My adrenaline was wearing off, but I was waiting for a call from Chris.  I was tired and Chris was tired.  But we were filled with joy. We couldn't believe he was here. We were now a family of three.

Family Day at BCT March 25, 2009

Amelia's birth story.
Simon's birth story.
Becket's birth story.