Titus's Birth Story

So now that the little man in 3 months old I figured I should finally get around to writing up his birth story mostly for my own memory before I forget all the details. So if you would rather not hear all the details I won't feel bad if you don't read this post.

Titus gave us quite the run around getting here. Unlike Madie or James I had Braxton-Hicks that started up nearly 6 weeks before he was born. Sometimes they would last for 6 to 7 hours, (usually all night long of course) and then just when I was really starting to get concerned they would wind down for a while. I won't lie, it really was not that fun and by 36 weeks I was ready for him to show up.

At my 38 week appointment my doctor informed me that she was leaving town the next day would be gone for the next 2 weeks and wouldn't be back till after my due date. So if I went into labor between then whoever was on call would deliver me. This wasn't the first encounter I had had with this doctor where I felt she dismissed me as a patient, but it was the last.

At 39 weeks I met my new doctor (ironically the one I was tried to get into first) on Monday. I was already dilated to a 4 and he told me he would tentatively set up a inducement date for 40 weeks but didn't think I would make it.

That night I had 5 hours of contractions and then started bleeding Tuesday morning so we high tailed it to the hospital. To keep it short they kept me in observation for half the day then sent me home. I thought for sure being at a 4 they would keep me. Instead they set me up with an appointment to see my new doctor the next afternoon at 4:50.

Wednesday morning at 9 contractions started up again. After being burned the day before I was not going in until I knew for sure I wasn't being sent back. I took James to preschool and tried to get the house cleaned up. I repacked the kids overnight bags and tried to grab one last nap. By 2:00 they were less than 5 minutes apart and I figures I should wake the kids up from naps and head downtown since it was a hour drive to the hospital and I still had to drop the kids off.

I got the kids dropped off and visited with my friend Brenna for a an hour until my appointment. I knew by this point that I was in active labor but since I had an appointment set up I figured it would be easier to go to that and sent over then trying to check in and getting sent home. Aaron met me at the hospital at 4:45 we went in and were told that I didn't have an appointment but Dr. West was fortunately still in (come to find out the receptionist who made the appointment put it in for the next Wednesday).

Dr. West informed me that I was at a 7, asked me how in the world I was still walking by myself, and told me I was at the wrong end of the hospital and to get myself over delivery ASAP! Since I was sent over by Dr. West I got to bypass the preliminary check in and sent me into delivery. As they were setting things up I was asked if I wanted an epidural or not. I really couldn't decide. As they were asking the preliminary questions and medical history I kept waffling back and forth. I had Madie naturally and loved it but kept thinking it was so easy just because was so little but I knew Titus was bigger and was a little more concerned about it.

 I didn't think the contractions were horrible in pain I was managing them pretty well but was more concerned about after they broke my water. I kept trying to ask Aaron when he thought and he said it was up to me. I finally gave in and said go for it but as the nurse was calling for the anesthesiologist Aaron looked and me and "I know you can do it."  Why he didn't say it before, I don't know, but I think he was hoping I would decide on my own to go naturally, but then when I didn't he gave me the extra boost of confidence I needed. I knew that if he said I could do it, I could do it.

While the nurse came in and out Aaron had put on his Jack Johnson Pandora station and was playing DJ for me. The nurse said it was the most upbeat delivery room she had been in. She kept saying she knew I was at an 8 but I was acting like I was 3. After I decided against the epidural the I asked if I could get into the Jacuzzi, mostly just because it was there and sounded nice. I had only just gotten settled in a feeling relaxed when the nurse told me Dr. West was there to break my water but I could get back into the Jacuzzi after. I put my hospital robe back on and went back into my room. Dr. West broke my water told me to wait a few minutes and then I could get back into the tub. He walked out of the room and they told me I could get unhooked from the monitors. I told them I wasn't getting in the Jacuzzi because this baby was coming.

The nurse paged the Dr. 911 and said I could start pushing. Dr. West had only made it to the end of the hall and turned back around. 6 pushed later, Samuel Titus Jensen was born 7lbs 8oz 21 inches long.

Aaron had music playing the entire time and he born to Fun's "We are Young." It was really was so much fun. Maybe not the usual word for giving birth but I loved it. It was relaxed, Aaron was amazing and supportive and I gave me the focus and confidence I needed.