I realize some may be wondering just what all happened with Ryder’s birth. Most know that I have delivered the previous 7 children at home and had similar plans this time around. So a quick explanation:
We arrived at the hospital and I was hooked up. Two days earlier “Papa Doc” had delivered grandchild #15 via c-section. Brian’s brother and sister-in-law were still at the hospital so they, along with Brian’s parents were able to keep us company as I waited on my body to work. After a slow start, things picked up around 4 that afternoon. Brian’s Dad suited up around 5:30 and they discussed the church business meeting while I went through the last stages of labor – wonderfully void of pain, thanks to an epidural.
At 6:00 PM, June 20, little Ryder came into the world! Having felt every moment of my previous births, the whole thing was quite unusual in that I felt nothing except a strange numbness in my legs. In a very different way than I had imagined, God answered my prayer for a gentle birth.
Papa Doc with his two grandchildren!
Nurse Helen who was patient and encouraging when things seemed long.
Everything over and done – time to rejoice with family! An unexpected benefit of the epidural was that it wiped out all my after-birth pains too – which are quite severe for me – so I could actually enjoy the “showing off” of the new baby.
Cousins – Ryder and Cherish; 1 day and 3 days old. They were the same length and within a few ounces of each other. Cherish will get to tell Ryder that she attended his birth…asleep in a little baby bed.
The experience at the hospital was wonderful. The staff were great, we didn’t feel like pawns in the system and many things were similar to the way I liked it at home. I enjoyed the epidural and was much relieved to be spared the pain this time around. We had a quiet day of recovery then headed home to show the kids their new baby brother! The drive home gave us time to process the entire event. I feel great and I am super glad to have it all behind me.
