He was born at 12:04am and weighed 7lbs 10oz 19 1/2 inches long. I was 38 weeks along at the time. My due date was the 23rd of April. It was a Saturday & a BUSY Saturday at that. We had Todds company picnic that morning and then I attended my friend Emilys baby shower in the early afternoon. I definitely felt HUGE but other than that wasn't really having steady contractions. I felt like I had been having braxton hicks for a few weeks though.
At about 2:30, my in-laws came over to prune plants and help me clean our house. While we were cleaning I noticed I was having contractions about every half an hour and they started coming closer together by the time my in-laws left around 4 - about 20 minutes apart. At this point we were supposed to be going on a date so I picked up my cute sitter and let her know I was in early labor but not to worry because I was pretty sure this wasn't the real deal. We drove to the nail salon so I could have a fill on my manicure (priorities) and Todd got his first pedicure! :) On the way to the salon Todd and I decided to call our midwife, Kim, and our doula, Danielle, to let them know contractions were about every 10 minutes apart at this point but not very painful at all and I felt great so I still thought this could very well stop and go away.
While I was getting my nails done I was timing my contractions and they were coming closer (7-8 minutes apart) and a little more painful but still nothing terrible. I called the birth tub lady, Shanna and she said thanks for letting her know and to keep in touch. We decided to go home and turn the water heater all the way up just in case this was really it and then we headed back out on our date. We drove down to Nordstrom so I could make a few returns and thats where I decided this was definitely it. Contractions were 5-6 minutes apart and were starting to hurt. I got a call from my sitter saying Shanna was at the front door ready to set up the tub and I panicked! I didn't realize she was going to come right then!! So we raced home and I took our sitter home to her house just down the street. Once we got home our friend Shanna who was setting up the birth tub was folding my laundry for me while the tub filled up with warm water. Sweetest woman.
I decided I would try to go to bed and get some rest. So while she finished the tub set up, I went into the other bedroom and tried to sleep. I do think I got a little bit of rest but mostly I was just quietly laboring. The contractions were still about every 4-5 minutes apart and not TOO painful. At about 9pm I made my way back into the bedroom and did some laboring in there with Todd. It was closer to 10pm when I got in the birth tub and Todd decided to call the midwife- I am so glad Todd was paying close attention to me and the changes I was going through because had we not called the midwife when he said it was time to, she may not have made it for the delivery! At this point I STILL wasn't convinced this was it! haha The labor just wasn't very painful! I was smiling and laughing and watching my favorite show - Friends.
Kim and Danielle arrived at about 10:30 and went to work setting all of their gear up and checking on the baby with the fetal doppler & checked my blood pressure as well. At about this time was when Todd also predicted I would have the baby by midnight! He wasn’t far off! When he said “This baby is going to be here by midnight.” I said NO way! I just laughed and thought that would be really nice but I’m sure I’ll be laboring into the wee hours of morning. SO glad he was right!! Danielle was amazing at anticipating my needs and doing what I needed without having to be asked. Todd was right by my side the whole time. I was nervous that because I was in the tub my labor was slowing down (it wasn't...I just hate to put people out and was a little paranoid that we had called the midwife & doula over for nothing) so Kim suggested I try laboring on the bed for a few contractions and she also checked my cervix for me. I was dying to know how dilated I was because I just didn't feel like it was hurting enough to be real labor! haha She said I was at an 8! I couldn't believe it! I was happy and also a little scared because I knew the worst was coming.
Sure enough after about a half hour of Danielle massaging my legs, feet and back and me almost falling asleep between the contractions, I had one BIG contraction and my water broke! I had started moaning through that contraction and once my water burst I started yelling- it was incredibly painful from that moment on. I got in the tub and quickly felt like I should go to the bathroom so I waddled painfully to the bathroom and realized the baby was quickly coming out so I waddled back to the tub and hopped in. Each contraction after that was VERY intense and I was progressively getting louder with my moaning and breathing. Todd was holding onto me tight and telling me how amazing I was and how much he loved me and Danielle was rubbing my back and cooling me off with cold wash cloths. I was pushing hard with each contraction- feeling the babys head for signs of progress with each contraction & knowing with each push he was coming closer and closer. I was saying my usual "GET HIM OUT!" "THIS HURTS SO BAD!" "WHY WONT HE JUST COME OUT?!" Kim and Danielle were reassuring me that he was coming and I needed to let my body help me with each push, bear down, breath and focus on the contraction helping me.
After about 10 minutes & about 5 contractions later with Todd holding me so tight-I pushed my heart out- literally gave everything I had and out slid our baby Ryan in one solid push. He was PERFECTION. I felt immediate relief and joy and ecstasy!! It was absolutely my easiest and fastest labor with the least amount of pain, least amount of pushing and I just felt incredible from the moment he came out of me. He was so sweet- I just kept saying "Hi my sweet boy" "You are just perfect!" "We love you angel boy!" and as I realized how lucky and blessed we were in that moment I looked up at my sweet Toddy to see him crying and just in awe. He was telling me "You are amazing" and I was saying thank you to everyone and telling them how amazing they were for me. They all laughed and said "You are the amazing one!" We were all so happy and smiling so joyfully.
We waited about 5 minutes and then I delivered the placenta which came with more blood than I had in the tub with Juliet so I asked Kim if that was okay and she said it was within the normal limits but if there was another gush we would need to transfer me to the nearby hospital. Thankfully my body was okay and we were able to stay home. After a check up from Kim my uterus was doing well and I didn't tear! (YAY!! Thanks to the perineal massages we did this time around!) and everything looked great. I nursed Ryan, we weighed and measured him. Todd and I drank in all that precious newborn delciousness and after everyone went home we took a much needed nap before the kids woke up.
A few hours later, I heard the kids stirring in the family room and called them into our bedroom. I said "Do you want to meet your new baby brother?" Troy's face lit up with excitement and he gasped and said a sweet "Yes!" Juliet followed him not totally sure what I was talking about. They climbed up on our bed and were ALL smiles looking at the perfect little baby Todd and I brought into our home! They both took turns holding him. Troy was very patient and let Juliet have a very long first turn. She was saying "Hi baby brother! Stroking his head and kissing him...Then Troy had his turn and was patient with Juliet who immediately wanted another turn. haha Troy smiled the entire time he was holding Ryan and I have NEVER seen Troy so focused on anything before like he was with his new baby bro. He didn't take his eyes off of him for a few minutes at least. I have to say- watching my kids meet their baby brother was probably one of those memories I will never forget and will always make me tear up. We are incredibly blessed.
Those first few days were Heaven on earth. Nursing hurt a bit but nothing like it was with Troy. We had Ryan's tongue clipped at his first pediatrician visit and that helped him latch on better which helped with nipple soreness. Ever since then we haven't had any issues with nursing. He is such a snuggle bug, loved to be held and now loves to interact and talk to us. He loved to curl up and snooze on my chest for the longest time but sadly doesn't do that as much anymore. He looked identical to Troy when he was born but with blue eyes and lighter hair. Since then he has really turned into a mini Troy with blue eyes and blonde hair coming in just like Juliet. I love that he is a perfect little mix of our two older kids. To say we are overwhelmed with happiness is an understatement. Life is definitely harder, being on time is more of a challenge and we have our tough days and moments but overall- life is sweet. Todd and I will often crash in our bed, look at each other and say "Wow, we sure are blessed." Even after telling the kids to go to bed for the 100th time that night. haha
