Asher's birth story

Asher David Coons

born October 18, 2010

3:47 am, Vancouver Canada

7 lbs 10 oz

It's hard to believe that this little bundle snuggled in a sling on my tummy was in my tummy less than 2 days ago!

As far as I can remember, the birth story goes something like this. Sunday night after dinner Dave and I were reading on the couch and I started getting contractions that were different than the Braxton Hicks I've been having regularly for the last 2 months. And by that I mean they would sometimes come every 5 minutes if I was walking around! So though I wasn't sure that the dull ache in my lower back and front would be anything different, they were uncomfortable enough that I would have to lean up against the couch or walk around and stretch. This was about 9 pm. I suddenly became very exhausted as well and went to bed with a hot pad. Around 11 pm the pain started becoming worse and I was tossing and turning so much that Dave decided to sleep on the couch in case these were legit and we had a long night ahead of us. I called my midwife to tell her what I was thinking (that I was going into labor) and then got in the tub by 11:30 pm with contractions 10-12 min apart. By 1 am, they were more like 6 minutes apart and by 1:30 more like 4-5 min apart. I got Dave up, called our friends who we had lined up to watch Josie, and said we needed to go. To be honest, I don't think he really believed it was the real thing--- we spent 9 days waiting and walking and contracting and finally inducing for 30 hours with Josie so this was all a little surreal. Plus, it was 2 days BEFORE my due date!

We left the house at 2 am, and by the time we got to my friend's house 15 min away, I was doing labor breathing in the car every 2-3 min. Josie was so excited in the back seat- copying me! It was pretty humorous indeed. Dave quickly dropped Josie off-- our saint of a friend Jenn met us at the door and Josie was more than happy to go to her- waving "bye bye" to us and off we went.

When we checked in at the hospital, I had to sign papers in between labor pains. My midwife, Carole, met us there and evaluated us-- I was 7 cm dilated and the sac was bulging. I think we arrived at the hospital at 2:30am. I was wheeled up to the delivery room and got in the water asap. I don't remember the rest all that clearly, at this time I had waves of pain without much break inbetween-- no break actually. Somewhere in the night I got on the delivery bed and my body took over. There wasn't much time for pain meds so I didn't have anything. I remember the midwife, nurse, and Dave all rubbing my back and then I pushed Asher out with a couple of heroic pushs-- I could hear them telling me not to push so I tried not pushing but he came out with a vengeance anyway and I ended up with 3 different tears requiring stitching. I was hoping that wouldn't happen, but oh well. Now I'm sitting on pillows and packed with ice. At least I know what to expect with the pain this time around!

Asher sure is a beautiful little boy. He looks a lot like Josie at birth, with darker skin and hair. He's got Dave's shaped face and my nose. He was 21 inches long with the same long legs and arms as Josie and 7.8 lbs- Josie was 7.2. So far he's a good little sleeper during the day and likes to be up all night-- our one night experience:)

Our reunion with Josie has been fun. Somehow hanging out with a bunch of kids has trippled her vocabulary and spunk in the last 2 days and she's sooo excited about her new brother. But she thinks she can handle him like a doll and flop him around so we'll have to be careful with her:) She's anxious to handle him "gently" but that includes rough grabs to the face and scratches to the head. "Baby" is her new favorite vocabulary word, she says it constantly!!!