Evan Bailey - A Birth Story

Evan's due date was June 14, 2011.  I was scheduled for an appointment with Dr. Salazar on June 13.  I wanted to find out if I was further dilated from the last appointment and find out what the plan was if I didn't go into labor on my due date.  When they called to tell me Dr. Salazar had been called in for a delivery and had to cancel my appointment, I broke into tears.  I didn't want to keep waiting for this baby! 

That night John, Jack and I went to dinner at El Rodeo (our favorite place).  After dinner, I was determined to take a walk to make myself go into labor.  We walked for about 45 minutes, but that wasn't enough for me!  I bounced and rolled around on my exercise ball for about an hour as John and I watched The Cake Boss.  We went to bed around 10:00, but I wasn't tired.  I played Solitaire on my phone and looked at Facebook for about an hour.  Around 12:30, I was awakened by some very strong contractions!  The contractions continued for about an hour and did not stop!  We called Steve and Norma at about 1:30 to come watch Jack for us.  We packed our bags in between ridiculous contractions.  We left the house at about 1:50 and arrived at Community South at 2:00. I paged Dr. Salazar in the car, and he called us right back.  Also, the speaker in my phone happened to go out this very same day.  My phone could only be used with speakerphone.  How convenient! 

I walked into the ER, and the woman at the desk said, "Labor?"  As I waited for John to park my car, I called my mom.  Keep in mind it is 1:00 her time.  I have to use speakerphone in the hospital lobby to tell her I am in labor.  She was obviously tired, and I was in the middle of a contraction.  It was a brief phone call!

We got to the fourth floor (I walked, not in a wheelchair) and asked for Room 4 where Jack was born.  We were put in Room 7 because 4 was taken.  It was a very nice room.  Time seemed to stand still until I got my epidural at 3:30.  I really didn't feel any contractions when I had Jack.  This was a painful labor!  I did not sleep a wink that night.  My blood pressure was taken every 15 minutes all night, and there were just so many sounds to keep me awake.  I was also so anxious to meet Evan!

Dr. Salazar came in to break my water at 7:00 a.m.  We waited until around 11:00 to feel any changes to let me know it was time to push.  Dr. Salazar was in surgery until about 12:00, and I was ready to push by then.  He came in and made himself comfortable until it was time to push.  12 minutes later, Evan was born!  I had to wear an oxygen mask for a few minutes while pushing, but everything was fine.  

Evan was born at 12:12 p.m.  They put him on my chest and he stayed there much longer than Jack did.  The umbilical cord was rather short.  John did the honors of cutting it, and Evan was ours!  We said how little he was, and the nurses said, yes, compared to your two year old.  I had no idea Evan was going to be so big!  He was 8 pounds, 10 ounces and 22 inches long.  I knew he was going to be long because I had such pain in my ribs for the last 6 weeks of my pregnancy.  I joked he would be 24 inches!  I even had an ultrasound on my gallbladder 3 weeks before my due date.  

Evan ate at 12:50 and two other times within 2 hours.  He was great!  Jack had such complications at his birth, but Evan was much easier.  His body temperature came right up, and he had a bath soon after his birth!  John and I just admired Evan for the longest time.  It was wonderful to have him with us for the duration of our hospital stay.   

We were discharged on Thursday around 1:00.  We packed up our things, and Evan and I rode in the wheelchair down to the car.  We went straight to Steve and Norma's to get Jack.  I missed Jack so much during this time!  I rode in the backseat between the two boys.  Jack pointed and said, "Baby Evan."

John and I are so blessed to have such healthy, precious baby boys.  I'm glad we had them this close together because we haven't forgotten what it is like to be up multiple times in the night and changing diapers is no big deal!  The first days at home have been full of kind visitors and family members.