Everything went so well for Ammon's labor and delivery and we are just so thrilled that he is here. The entire labor was only about 6 1/2 hours so there is not much to tell, but for the record I'll include some more details. I started having contractions Tuesday afternoon around 4:00 and they came pretty consistently every 5 to 10 minutes but were pretty short right from the beginning. I didn't tell Daniel until halfway through dinner because I was still trying to convince myself that labor had really started, after having so many Braxton Hicks in the last few weeks. I was three days past my due date and didn't want to get my hopes up if I was wrong. I started to officially time the contractions around 7:30 and get things ready, knowing that we would be going to the hospital that night. I called the midwife at 8:00 to give her a heads up but said I could probably stay home a while longer. She said to have everything ready to go in case things moved quickly and to call when I decided to go to the hospital. By 8:30 I decided the contractions were strong enough that we should head out. Spencer and Esther were not yet asleep so we told them we were going and that Gramma would stay there with them. I am so grateful my mom was here and that we didn't have to worry about the kids at all.
We arrived at the hospital at 9:11pm and the contractions were pretty strong but still not too long. I could tell the people at the front desk were not impressed when we told them the length and frequency, 40 seconds and 4 minutes apart. When we got situated in the labor and delivery room, the midwife checked to see how far dilated I was. She looked at me and asked if I had any guesses. I knew I was at a 6 when I checked in with Esther and thought maybe it would be the same but just told her I had no idea. She told me I was at a 9. I could not believe it!! I laughed out of surprise and relief to know I was this far and that the contractions should be tough at this point. I labored for about another hour and the midwife then suggested that she break my water. With that release I was ready to push and with a few more contractions Ammon was born! It was very intense at the end and I felt very grateful that everything went as quickly as it did. I had prepared to have a natural birth in case things did go quickly but by the end of my pregnancy I was hopeful to have that experience regardless. I was very pleased with both Spencer and Esther's births with epidurals but felt that I wanted to experience a natural birth this time and feel so blessed that I could. Daniel was so supportive through it all and it is a sweet memory for both of us.
Daniel brought Spencer and Esther and my mom to the hospital the next morning and we enjoyed our first moments together meeting baby brother.
I stayed at the hospital the next day by myself and got some good rest. I had to wait until Ammon was 48 hours to get discharged, so after 10:30pm, but it worked out well because Daniel had a full day on campus and was able to have dinner with the kids and give them a bath before coming over to spend the last few hours with me and Ammon. We got home late but it felt so good to be there and I kept saying to myself how home really is heaven on earth! And now we are enjoying our sweet little bundle of joy that just came from there and couldn't be more happy.
