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Larkin's Birth

Larkin was due to arrive on July 8th, 1997. We were a little disappointed when he didn't arrive on the expected du date, but god knew when he was to arrive and it just wasn't then. Well a whole week went by and still nothing, no signs whatsoever. I was a little frustrated and of course scared I mean this was my first child and I didn't know what to expect. Wednesday, July 16th came and still nothing all morning or afternoon. I was beginning to think, "He's never coming out!" My husband Shawn and I decided to go to the laundrymat and do some laundry, that night. I wasn't even thinking this was the night. I was sitting reading a magazine and then.....MY WATER BROKE!!

I couldn't believe it. Shawn and I were just talking about how funny it would be if I went into labor there at the Laundry mat. We called my parents and my mom took me to the hospital while Shawn got the laundry together.

We arrived at the hospital, 15 minutes later. Contractions hadn't hit until 5 minutes after I arrived at the hospital, about the time Shawn got there. I had to have most of labor in the waiting room because all the labor rooms were filled up that night and I had to wait for one to open up. I just kept thinking, "Great....I'm going to have my baby here in the waiting room!"

Finally I got a labor room! Contractions didn't start getting harder until 3 hours after my water broke. At this point, I couldn't even stand Shawn touching me or even the sound of his voice. My mom was the one helping me through my Lamaze breathing, helping me through every painful contraction. Oh I forgot to mention....I was having a natural childbirth!

The doctor came in to check my dialation around midnight......I was at 4 centimeters. About 30 minutes later he checked my again because there was no break in between my contractions. I was now at 8! At this time I was getting scared, 2 more centimeters and I'd be in the delivery room, giving birth to our little miracle.

I was finally at 10!!! They wheeled me into the delivery room. At this moment I wanted Shawn of course. I started pushing soon after they wheeled me in the delivery room. I kept thinking. "I thought I was supposed to have the urge to push....before you started pushing? I don't have the urge to push....what is this doctor thinking?" I tried different pushing positions and wasn't having any luck. Then the doctor told me, "Stop pushing you're pushing on a closed door....we're going to have to do a c-section." I was thinking, "Oh, great...I can't believe this!" I about cried as they started prepping me. All Shawn could do was look at me and say I'm sorry! After they got almost everything prepped I had the urge to push beyond belief., I kept pushing anyway...thinking, maybe I wouldn't need a c-section. They wheeled me into the surgery room....of course I'm still pushing. Then the surgery doctor came in...he walked in saying, "She can push....we don't need a c-section!" I thanked god for this doctor...as they say the lord works in mysterious ways.

After about 30 minutes of pushing our son, Larkin was finally here at 5:12 a.m. on Thursday morning, July 17th. Shawn and I cried after I gave that last push and we heard him cry. We were just so happy he was here. Shawn let me hold Larkin first, I don't know I guess it was because of all I went through, carrying the baby for 9 months and the pain of labor and childbirth. Shawn kept saying, "I'm proud of you, thank you so much for giving me a child...a son!"

As they wheeled me into the recovery room, Dr. Hensley...the god sent doctor...walked out of the nursery and said, "You have a healthy, 8 pound 3.9 ounce baby boy. Then Shawn (New Daddy) and my mom (New Grandmother) came in the recovery room with Larkin. I couldn't believe after 9 months.....he was finally here. I was just so happy and relieved that he was here and healthy, actually I think it was relief to have the labor and delivery over with. I was physically and mentally tired by this point, but at the same time time...ecstatic that Larkin was finally here..