Davis Paul Carter (named after my dad) was born on Friday at 5:00 pm. He was 8 pounds even and 20.5 inches long. He's a furry little animal like my others, except his hair is a silvery blonde!
He's made of velvet--he's the softest and best-smelling little guy ever. I could snuggle and nuzzle him all the rest of my days. Here's the story . . . .
I went to the doctor Friday morning and I was dilated to a four. The doctor stripped my membranes and I expected that would send me into labor since that was exactly how I had my other three. I had hired house cleaners that morning, had a fresh pedicure, had my mother-in-law lined up to babysit--I was ready to go. I went to the gym and did some cardio (I was not leaving this to chance) and by lunchtime I was feeling contraction-y. I had been feeling contraction-y for about a month though (hence being dilated to a four) so I still thought I had a long time to go. My mother-in-law called at 2:30 and said she'd drive up from Hollister (an hour away) even though I wasn't in labor yet just to be safe.
Chris and Davis
I sent her at text at 2:36 saying that was a good thing because the contractions were getting real. Thank goodness she left when she did, because when she got to my house the contractions were getting intense, even though I'd been having them for less than an hour. We snapped a couple pictures and hopped in the car for the hospital.
Ha ha, Ashley's having a contraction!
The contractions started to really hurt on the way over, and by the time I got to my hospital room they were brutal. Here I am just getting to the delivery room--the clock shows it's 4:20--40 minutes before he was born!
After I changed I made Tyler go find a nurse because I was sure the baby was coming soon. I was dilated to a 7 at that point, and I was begging for an epidural. They did paperwork and got my iv in, all the while I was having excruciating contractions. I declared that I really needed to push but I did NOT want to have that baby without an epidural. They checked me again (probably around 4:45) and I was ready to go. They said I could try to hold off and they could try to get the epidural or I could just have the baby right then and have it over with. This may have been the scariest moment of my life--neither of those options was good. The contractions were killing me beyond belief and I couldn't bear to wait out any more of them without pushing. So I decided to just get it over with asap. The doctor came in and seemed to take forever to suit up (meanwhile she was joking with Tyler and I remember being completely and entirely unamused). When she was ready I got to push and it was just ridiculously painful--there are no words but at least it was fast. Let me declare here and now while it's fresh in my memory that natural delivery was horrendous and that, should I ever by any chance become pregnant again, I must do all in my power to have a slow, relaxed, heavily-medicated labor.
Thankfully as soon as the delivery was over I felt a million times better and I was able to enjoy the little guy.
They cleaned him up right there in the delivery room and my mother-in-law brought the big boys over to visit.
They moved me to a recovery room and I was absolutely delighted to get a private one (the last two times I got moved to shared rooms). I really liked delivering in the evening because I got to eat dinner, relax for a bit, and then go to sleep. (All my other boys came in the morning after laboring all through the night.) I spent Friday cuddling with Davis and having visits from Tyler's family. (My mom is coming on Friday.)
Molly
Ashley and Tyler's dad
Davis--one day old.
It was so nice having Tyler's mom with my kids because Tyler got to spend most of the day at the hospital with me. We ate candy and watched Downton Abby.
I got discharged this morning.
As nice as it was to relax in the hospital, I was getting a little antsy and ready to feel like a real person again.
I'm sure I'll be ready to go back after a few days of this:
I'm off to soak up the little guy!
35 comments:
Cute baby! Cute name! Congrats!!
Congrats Ashley! He is a really cute little guy!
What a sweet, adorable baby! I have been toying with the idea of natural labor and you've scared me out of it again. My epidurals don't work during the baby's descent through the birth canal or during pushing, so I figured that what's a few more hours of feeling contractions? Yes? No?
In your final picture, you could tell people you have triplet red-heads if you feel like going for the shock value.
Congratulations! I have no hope of looking like that postpartum.
you don't know me...but i'm a friend of denae's. anyway....congrats! i had a very similar birth experience with my 4th boy (unplanned natural birth) and am TOTALLY ON THE SAME PAGE WITH YOU. no thank you. worst pain ever. i made sure i had an epidural with #5 (girl!) anyway....your little guy is adorable, and i LOVE how much hair he has!!!! all of mine are baldies. congrats to you! enjoy that little guy...
So happy for you and three cheers that it went fast! And he and Thomas share a birthday, which is a pretty fantastic day, indeed.
Now go take a nap :)
Well that sounds miserable. Did you scream so loud you were hoarse? I want you to join my club. He is so super adorable! Wow, you have 4 kids. Congrats! He is one super lucky boy to be in your family.
He is darling! And congrats again for making it through ;) Here's hoping I get that blessed epidural!
You are so amazing! And beautiful even after having just gone through labor! He's a doll!
Yay! Congratulations to you. I love sweet smelling, furry little babies. And I feel your pain... Your story sounds almost identical to the birth of my second, except my dad was coming from only 15 minutes away, I didn't think I was gonna make it. Water broke at 4:10 - baby born at 5:40. That was some intense pain... and NO epidural (pure travesty).
Congratulations on the new little guy. He's adorable. Can't wait to see him. Keep posting pics.
First, you look so good--before and after! You didn't look like you were big enough to have an 8 lb baby.
Second, a HUGE thank you to Chris for coming up ASAP. I looked back at my texts to you, and one said, "get to the hospital". The very next one from you said, "I had the baby". They were about 11/2 hours apart.
Third, I can"t wait to get there and sniggle and sniff him!
First, you look so good--before and after! You didn't look like you were big enough to have an 8 lb baby.
Second, a HUGE thank you to Chris for coming up ASAP. I looked back at my texts to you, and one said, "get to the hospital". The very next one from you said, "I had the baby". They were about 11/2 hours apart.
Third, I can"t wait to get there and sniggle and sniff him!
Woohoo and congratulations!! I've been wondering about you and checking for updates. I love the name Davis!
congrats again ash! you look amazing. i still can't believe he isn't a red. that last picture is hilarious even though bennett looks so sad and confused. good luck! davis is adorable.
total blog stalker here, but WOW i am amazed by this story. i labored with my son all night and had him early in the morning, and i was a total and complete gross mess the whole time in the hospital. you look amazing!
your baby is adorable, and i love his name. congrats!
You are super human sister. That sounds awesome--to have a baby that fast and not get exhausted after hours laboring--but horrendous, to have natural childbirth. I'm so proud of you! I love that you're back to real life after a few hours and I check out for like 6 weeks when I have babies (probably why I've only 3.) Love you!
So exciting! What a good story. I was dilated to a four with Savannah, too. I totally know what you mean when you said you didn't know if the contractions you were having were any different than the labor you had been in all. month. long.
He is a total doll, of course. So happy for you guys. Live it up- #4's babyhood goes WAY TOO FAST!! And hate to break it to you, but you won't feel like a "real" person for awhile...at least in my experience.
Ashley, Davis is precious! He looks so furry and smushy. Your kids always remind me of Cam and Rex when they were newborns.
Congrats to you all!
PS I'd like to borrow some of your mom's grandkids. I am woefully behind.
Congratulations Ash! He's so sweet!
He is so so cute. He looks like a blonde Max to me.
Here are some of my jealousies:
1) he has so much hair. I just love that. Only Andrew had much hair, and it wasn't close to these thick locks your boys sport.
2) you are so pretty. seriously. you looked awesome even the day you delivered. I am bigger now than you were that day and it is just going to get ridiculous over the next TEN WEEKS.
3) you got great newborn-mom photos. the ones brigham took of me with porter still make me feel a flame of indignation at him for not choosing a new angle.
4) your mom. I need a Linda in my life.
Anyway, enough of my envies. I am so happy for you that you have your little baby. He really is so adorable, and I do love that name. I am sorry you had to go through natural childbirth, but now at least you can give some moral support to we moms who go the epidural route that we are not morally inferior for our choice to avoid pain.
CONGRATULATIONS again on that cutie!
I'm so sorry you didn't get the epidural. I've heard natural birth referred to as a ring of fire. I hope to never experience that fire! Davis is precious and reminds me a lot of Max. I can't believe he is a blondie!!!
I pray he will be a good baby for you. Love you tons.
Habs
congrats! he is such a cutie! love the name.
I'm really happy for you guys! I can't believe no epidural but now you can say you did it! He is a darling little guy and how fun that his hair is different. Good luck in the next little while!
So fun! (Not that non medicated birth...that has to be awful...and anyone who says differently is lying!) but he is SO FUN! And adorable! Congratulations!
I can NOT get over how amazing you look through every single one of these pictures. Dang! Way to end on a high note! You look incredible! Davis is adorable and I wish we lived closer so I could snuggle on him. Avery is getting WAY too big too fast and I miss that newborn snuggle time. Soak it up! Congratulations! Miss you.
Congratulations! You look fantastic and Davis is adorable. Can't believe he's blonde. Love it.
He is the cutest baby ever and that is coming from someone who has cute babies!
I love his hair. It is adorable. And I love the pic of him with his arms above his head like he is chillin. so funny.
YOu look really good in these photos..way too good to be heading to the hospital. I was always going there in the middle of the night or in a hurry and always looking nasty.
Oh my gosh...he is so sweet. And he has a look on his face like he knows everything that is going on!
Congrats, congrats, congrats!
By the way, you look so pretty.
Oh my gosh...he is so sweet. And he has a look on his face like he knows everything that is going on!
Congrats, congrats, congrats!
By the way, you look so pretty.
Chills the entire time reading these last two posts. Congratulations Ashley! So happy for you. He looks like he feels like velvet! And I ADORE the name! I wish I had used it for a first name, but it is Corey's middle name. Reading all about the delivery took me back to having Bradley. I remember just when I thought I was going to DIE, he came. Epidurals are the way to go. Anyway, he is precious and you seriously look amazing, my friend! So happy for your family!
Congratulations!!! He is absolutely darling. Really, what a sweet little guy! That last picture of you and Tyler and your brood is awesome!! I can't believe how life has changed.
Congratulations! You look incredible and so much like your mom! The baby is adorable! Fun times ahead!
I don't know WHY my sign in to you is called Laughter! This is Sheryl. I am just glad it is letting me leave a post. :)
Congratulations! Davis is seriously, seriously one of the sweetest cutest babies I have ever seen. I can't get over his blond hair and what a sweet face he has.
I, for one, am super proud of you and your unintended natural birth! You have got to OWN it! I hope you felt a little empowered by it all at least. :) Anyway, I truly think the contractions were the worst part and can't remember the birth itself...although it will be coming back to me--and soon.
I love the contraction pic of you before heading in. I remember having Lancer take one of me, and I was dying.
Nobody gets a medal for natural childbirth. I have no idea why anyone in their right mind would choose that.
So glad Davis is here, and that you chose such a cute name for your little guy!
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