Welcome Addition

Ian Christopher has arrived! He was born in St. Luke’s Hospital in downtown Boise, Idaho on Friday, January 16 at 2:02pm. He weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces and was 20 inches long. YEAH! (Don’t read on unless you want the details of labor.)

After being dilated to almost 4 cm and over 80% effaced for a week I decided to be induced before the holiday weekend so my doctor (Bryan Hodges) would be available to deliver him. My due date was just four days later.

He broke my water first to see if we could get labor started, but after a couple hours of walking, standing, hot tubbing, and sitting on the birthing ball in different positions, nothing happened so at 11:00am the nurse started a Pitocin drip. I was feeling contractions within 15 minutes and 3 hours later he was born. With Corey’s help as an amazing Labor coach I was able to do it again un-medicated.

The last part was really tough, but when Dr. Hodges let me finish pulling Ian out and rest his warm body on my stomach, it was all worth it. Being allowed to partner with God to give birth is such an amazing experience. When you consider all of the things that could go wrong, but don’t...it truly is a miracle.