I'm still getting used to saying it, but I'm a mom now :)
Colby James Hays was born on November 19th, 2011 at 2:06am. He weighed 6 lbs 1oz and measured 20.5 inches.I wanted to have a natural birth without an epidural, an induction, or an episiotomy. But you know what they say about the best laid plans. When my water broke at 2:14pm on the 18th and I wasn't having any contractions, all my fine plans kind of went out the window. I was induced at 5:30pm and braved three hours of pitocin-induced contractions before deciding I was done writhing around in agony and opted for an epidural.
Colby's heart rate dropped every once in awhile with contractions, causing our nurse to hustle in to make me roll over or put on oxygen. As the contractions grew stronger, his heart rate dropped lower and more frequently. At 1:45am Dr. Savage came in and gave me a short, but compelling pep talk, "If you can't push him out really quick, you're going to need a C-section. You need to push like your baby's life depends on it, because it does."
It took four long, hard pushes (with Dr. Savage hauling on him with a vacuum) to get Colby out. It turns out the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck four times, but besides a large purple bruise on his head from the vacuum, he is perfectly healthy. My doctor later told me she felt there was some divine intervention involved with his birth. I agree. His very existence is a miracle to me and I am so grateful for this little red-head who gave a whole new level of depth and meaning to my life.
