katie at 39 weeks ... Beckton arrives!

If you want to skip the story and go right to the pictures ...

http://www.our365.com/newbornportraits/babydetail.aspx?birthid=b647d50c-bc13-4445-9f9b-172c357c1042&babyid=3d104df4-5cf9-47f1-a594-1082d76f0f81

Well on April 29th little man decided it was time to make his debut. The story .. Scott and I went to lunch at Panera on Tuesday April 28th. I said I wanted a nice relaxing lunch with him. Relaxing it was, we ate, chatted and read the paper. Scott then decided he wanted to go to the new Vitamin Shop (yes random) across the street. So we did just that. Inside I confessed that I had been feeling a little funny and so we called my doctor. I kinda had a feeling like my water might break. The doctor had us go to labor and delivery almost immediately. We checked in around 1:30PM got settled and waited. Nothing really happened and all signs appeared to point to no baby coming that day I was only dilated 1 1/2 cm. So, Scott decided to head home let out the dogs, mow the lawn and come back to pick me up. As I awaited tests results I noticed my abdomen becoming a little firmer from time to time and my Mom decided that she would come over and sit with me. The nurse walked in and said are you aware that you are having contractions that are lasting 6 minutes? I said well I knew something was going on but 6 minutes seems like a long contraction! Yes, she replied it's not the norm. Then they noticed that Mr. Beckton's heart rate was going down during these lengthy contractions and they started monitoring me a little more closely. When Dr. Komoroski arrived she checked me out and said I was dilated about 3 cm. Obviously I called Scott and he came back to the hospital but nothing much more happened. The nurses just said they would monitor me. So Scott and my Mom decided to go and grab some dinner. Just before they left the room the nurse came in with a bunch of IV's and trays and said - looks like we're going to have a baby tonight! Apparently with the dilation, long contractions and baby's heart rate the Dr. made a decision to augment me - meaning help the labor along without inducing. We were all a little shocked but Scott's (what the hell did you just say) face really made us laugh. He literally thought this was some silly false alarm. Turns out Beckton and I knew what we were doing. So they hooked me up, had me sign a bunch of forms and about 5 minutes after I was augmented (and my Mom and Scott left) my water broke on it's own. Funny thing was, Scott's parents decided to pay me a visit during that very moment! They were standing at my door as I yelled - you may not want to come in here my water is breaking all over the place! From there it was pretty much your typical labor story. Things moved much more quickly and I started dilating 1cm an hour. The pains were steady but not unbearable until I reached the back labor portion. That was pretty excruciating and I decided an epidural was necessary. The epidural was also pretty painful and a little scary as well. All in all though, it did it's job - took the pain but not the pressure away. From there I was just monitored every 45 minutes. Scott, his parents and my Mom were in the room keeping me company but when things settled down they decided to head home and wait for Scott's call. Probably a good idea because the Dr. informed us that with the risk of the baby's heart rate going low she wasn't keen on having a bunch of people in the delivery room. So, it ended up being just Scott and I which was actually very nice. The nurse Karen was too funny and she really made things memorable for us both. When she came in at 2:45AM and said ok you're at 10cm - I said what happens now? She replied - you push and have that baby! This pretty much freaked me out, knowing that just 12 hours ago I was having a nice relaxing lunch at Panera! Regardless Scott and Karen the nurse turned on some music and started dancing and singing and that lightened my spirits! Instead of "Poker Face" (a song that I truly hate) they sang "Pushin' Face." I will always remember that! Then about 5 pushes later and Mr. Beckton joined our world. He was born at 3:07AM, weighed in at 6 lbs 7oz, and was 20 in long. After his safe arrival our parents gathered in the delivery room and held him. Scott took some video of his first moments after he was all cleaned off and the two of us just gazed at our baby boy.

We love him so much!!!!!!!!