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| Caiden Lake Lang Born November 30, 2010 at 1:43 pm 8 pounds, 10 ounces 20 inches long |
I will say that the pregnancy was not what I had pictured. At 6 weeks, I began the morning sickness phase. Now, like many moms-to-be, I say "morning" very loosely. Weeks 6 & 7, I threw up all the time. I'm sure you're thinking, "Yeah, I puked a few times, too" or "I felt crappy all the time when I was pregnant." Well, those first couple of weeks, I threw up 15-20 times per day and felt like I was going to in between. No exaggeration. I was either in bed or in the bathroom. Week 8, I was started on one anti-emetic medication. Nada. It did nothing. So I was also put on another drug to alternate. The combination helped a little. I was still getting sick about 8-10 times per day, though. Well, there was little else I could do as I tried all the other suggestions with no luck (peppermint, ginger, carbonation, Vitamin B suckers, sleep, soup, popsicles, etc.). This continued until I was 26 weeks pregnant. Once again, I'm not exaggerating. I think that I just learned how to function this way, as during this time I was finishing up nursing school and studying/taking my Board Examinations for my nursing license. I don't know how I did all of this. It is all kind of a blur, actually.
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| 36 weeks pregnant. |
For 6 weeks, pregnancy was great! I had that "glow" that other moms talk about. I felt healthy, happy, and attractive. Then, the end of summer hit. I was hot. I gained all my pregnancy weight (as I actually had lost about 13 pounds up to this point), I was working 3, 12-hour shifts every week at my new job at the hospital, I felt like others at the end of a pregnancy. Big & uncomfortable. The last month of my pregnancy, each weekly visit to my doctor ended with how much I had dilated and her saying, "Oh, you definitely won't make it until the end of the week." Lies, lies, lies. Yes, I did make it to the end of the week. And again. And again. And again. My due date came and went, and little man wasn't budging. I tried walking. I tried raking leaves. I tried sitting and bouncing on the exercise ball. I tried pineapple, spicy foods, a little caffeine. I tried talking to Caiden and begging him to come out. I'll come right out and say that we even tried sex. Not fun for either Ryan nor myself... I don't understand how women can actually enjoy it late in their pregnancy. But nothing worked. Nothing could convince little man, not even all those weeks of Braxton-Hicks, to let us see his sweet, little face.
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| First family photo. |
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| 1 minute old. |
At nine days past my due date, my doctor decided to induce me. This is something I had hoped would not need to happen. I am all for letting the baby decide when he is ready to come out into the world, and the less medical intervention, the better, in my opinion. But throughout the later stages of my pregnancy, Caiden was estimated to be a big boy, a prediction of nine pounds by my doctor. I had already dilated to 4 cm by the time I even went to the hospital, but with first pregnancies, I was still assured that it would take the average induction of about 12-18 hours of labor. Again, lies. From the moment I was started on oxytocin and the doctor broke my water, Caiden changed his mind... with vigor! My contractions started, yes started, at two to three minutes apart and never took a break. The first stage of labor usually takes up to 12 hours. Mine took 5 1/2 hours. The second stage of labor can take upwards of 4-6 hours. Mine took 15 minutes. The third stage of labor (pushing) usually takes an hour or more. Mine took 10 minutes and 2-3 pushes. Now, I'm not saying all of this to brag. It was the worst pain of my life. Especially with an epidural that only worked on my left thigh and no IV drugs. I felt every single thing. But it only lasted 6 hours from beginning to end. And what an end it was!!! My beautiful baby boy was laid on my chest, and I fell in love instantly. Cliche? Sure. True? Absolutely. Ryan and I cried together, holding our sweet, precious baby for the first time.
I have dreamed of becoming a mommy since I was a little girl. I could never have imagined how amazing it would be or just how enriched my life would become. Caiden is the absolute light of my life. He brings joy into my heart that I have never experienced. I am sometimes overwhelmed to the point of tears, just thinking about him. It might not have been the idealized pregnancy or labor and delivery I dreamed of, but I would do it over and over again to have the same outcome... a healthy, handsome, perfect baby boy. I love you, sweet Caiden, and am so proud to be your mommy.
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| Caiden's Newborn Photos, 12 Days Old. |
