Laurie's Birth Story (from her adoring, thankful, admiring older sister Shaunna's point of view)

At exactly 6:25am on Friday I got a phone call from Laurie that she was having a lot of really low contractions, cramps, and was indeed sure that it was time to get everyone situated and herself off to the hospital. She said to take my time and shower and do what I needed to do..... So I took a nice hot shower, got Noah ready for school and got Breaunna and Caitlyn ready for the hospital.

At 7:30am I got a more anxious phone call from Laurie asking where I was! She wasn't in a panic but James wasn't home and she was alone with Gabi and Krisalyn so I think she just wanted someone there.

I drove her, James, and Cameron (her friend and acting Doula) to the hospital while mom had Breaunna, Caitlyn, and Joshua in her van. Actually, I drove them to Race Trac because her van was out of gas and there she frightened the attendants because of her waddle to the restroom.....(((memories))) Also, lucky for all of us it was raining and Vince wasn't able to work so he got dubbed babysitter for the day.

We checked in to Baylor Hospital around 915am. After some brief monitoring, a hep lock (just in case) and the only midwife check of the day.....we were excited to hear she was 6cm dilated, 90% effaced, but that the little rascal had scooted back UP and was at a -3 station! (MEN!@!)

Lyndsey (the midwife) discussed options with Laurie and they opted to poke a few holes in her bag of water rather that break it all together. This happened at about 10:15am.

Here things blur for me a bit. Laurie stayed in bed for a little while so that the baby's head would come down some before a cord or anything else...... She walked the halls some but not much. It actually seemed like labor slowed down a bit and contx were anywhere from 10-15min. Laurie was in such good spirits laughing and talking between contx and just soooo excited the day was finally here.

Back in her room (The NEW room--- the nurse Nikki saw what a great support system Laurie had and we told her more people were on their way so she moved us to the largest laboring suite they had on the floor! It was HUGE and sooooo nice and spread out).......Laurie got in such a comfortable pattern of walking, rocking, sitting on the ball, and using the restroom that we spent the rest of the afternoon in there.

Nikki floated in and out of the room. I don't know for sure but I would guess she came in every 20-30min and listed to the baby on a doppler. Lyndsey came in several times and was finally shued away to get some rest. Laurie was too concerned with how Lyndsey was feeling to concentrate on her own body and I know it relaxed her to know her midwife was resting not just waiting on her.

Around 1pm Laurie was in the restroom and had a long conversation with her very first doula Cathy. (Cathy wanted to attend the birth for Laurie but was unable to because of a long night with another laboring mom the day before.) Cathy encouraged Laurie soooo much. She told her it didn't matter what the timing of the contx was, all that mattered was they were helping her body change so that her baby could be born.

In my mind this is when the real change began. **** Disclaimer**** I'm no doula. I have no training or skills, but if you watch and listen to a woman in labor you just know. Or maybe its a connection between Laurie and I as sisters (after all my csection scar itched all day -and it never does! -- and I have that breastfeeding let down feeling when she first nurses).

Anyway, she totally relaxed! She climbed into bed and was on her knees with the birthing ball in front of her. She would rock on it, Cameron would apply pressure to her pelvic area during contx and I just soothed her and tried to help her relax, make her moans deep....low....and open. She did many pelvic rocks with Cameron's guidance at this point as well.

**Oops! I'm supposed to be the photographer. That was my "job". I did get some awesome shots. They are all on Laurie's camera and I'll have to get them from her. But at this point I couldn't focus on pictures...no matter how hard I tried. I was drawn to Laurie's side whether she wanted me or not! Actually, I know I helped so Im sure she'll forgive me. Plus Joshua got some great pictures. Most of the ones I'm posting he took.... Back to the story.

At 1:55pm the nurse checked the baby's heart rate. Laurie and Cameron laughed because it was 2pm and thats what time Laurie had guessed he would be born. She made a few jokes and said she need to use the restroom again. Cameron was on a phone call ~ I think to Cathy again. When Laurie stood up she started laughing and we were kinda holding each other up the laughter got so silly. She kept yelping "I've gotta pee I've gotta pee"...... As I could see a puddle forming on the floor and her THIRD pair of pants get soaked through I was laughing because I thought she indeed had to pee. NOPE ~ That water was finally really breaking!!! YIPEE! Not the constant draining it had done on her first two pair of pants but indeed splash!

Laurie made it to the restroom and had two very hard contx there. The kind where your toes curl back and she begins to shake her head, her eyes get big and you can see her brain screaming "why the heck are you people letting me do this natural for I'm out of my mind......." She made it back to bed at 2:13 and resumed the previous comfortable position.

But things WERE in deed different. With every contx which were coming every 45sec-2min. Cameron and I could make eye contact and tell she was getting close. She began pushing a little with those contx. We asked my dad to go out and ask Nikki if she would call Lyndsey to come to the room. We told him not to act in a panic and he didn't but the nurse still came running. We just told her it was getting close and we'd like Lyndsey to come in. Cameron began asking Laurie if she was ready to get into the pool but the contx were so intense and so quick that she wasn't focused enough to make a decision. With Cameron's probing I reasoned with Laurie and told her it was time if she was ever gonna make it to the pool...

After the next contx we helped her move. It was amazing the transformation she underwent from bed to water..... She stepped into the pool at 2:38pm and this picture is DURING a contx!

Nikki showed up then for another doppler reading.

Nikki left to get a drink of water and Lyndsey came in. Lyndsey leaned up against the wall and assessed the situation. With the next contx Laurie's voice changed. She said...."He's coming! His head is coming"

Lynsey grabbed gloves and indeed he WAS coming! Without so much as a push his head was out! Laurie had to have quick assistance from Cameron to pull back her legs as Lyndsey guided the shoulders out. James and Lyndsey caught him and placed him up on Laurie. He was born at exactly 2:43 (5min after getting in the water!!)

After a bit of rubbing and no cry..... it was noticed that his cord was around his neck.......a little "french kissing" and some oxygen later and Elijah was pink and in the warmer! That was at 2:46:45

Laurie got out of the tub and was able to deliver a perfect looking "Elijah home".

After she was snuggled under the covers and getting warm she met her little man.

He took to nursing right away and is a little charmer! At least he's stolen his Grannie and Aunt Shaunna's heart. Not too mention Breaunna, Gabriella, Caitlyn, and Madilyn who are obsessed! I LOVE THIS picture!

To Laurie: You are an amazing woman. I can't find words to express how grateful I feel that you share your experience with me. You made it all look sooooo easy!

Thank you for my precious little nephew who I promise to spoil rotten!