Rule Breaker- Jude - Barnett Boy #3
My Midwife told me... #3 is the make it or break it baby. They break all the rules!
I entered Jude's pregnancy at my healthiest state yet, which granted me the blessing of skipping the gestational diabetes this time around. He was perfect on his Ultrasounds, performing exactly as expected. He was purposeful in his movement and always let me know he was there. The day we found out that he was a boy, Parker and I knew his name would be Jude Decker (his Mom's maiden name). I was instantly attached to him, not the least bit disappointed to be having a 3rd boy.
Things were crazy at work, opening a new hospital, so many changes, and I was preparing to step down as the manager of the Ultrasound department for the hospital system after 8.5 years and moving to the weekend shift. I was under so much stress.... and then it happened. Contractions out the ying yang and a visit to the OB showed a willingly dilating cervix at the beginning of January. I was placed immediately on bed rest. What the What!? Two prior inductions and now a baby trying to come at 32 weeks! Working in healthcare, I know the term "wimpy white boy" and didn't want my little fella to be in a hurry for a stay in the NICU. During my bed rest, we had the snowpocalypse of 2015 and we were stuck in our Cumming, Ga rental home without power for several days. Our Bishop was kind enough to hike to our house with his son, complete with chainsaws to remove downed trees from our driveway, in case a visit to the hospital to delivery baby Jude was necessary. It was an adventure, for sure!
The bed rest did the trick and at 37 weeks, I was given the green light to resume normal activity and a little over a week later I felt like it must be time. I had been sitting at 4cm dilated for several weeks and the contractions were picking up considerably, however, we were sent on our way for no change in my cervix on our first check in to Labor and Delivery. Since both our Moms were at the house with Grey and Knox, Parker and I decided to have one last date night near the hospital and ate fabulous Eggplant Parmesan and stayed the night at the local Hilton. I was convinced we would be returning to the hospital before check-out. However, this baby boy who had been in such a rush was having 2nd thoughts. We returned home defeated, relieved the Grandmas from their babysitting and went to bed.
At 3am, I knew things were changing and since Knox's delivery had been lightning speed going from 5cm to delivering in less than an hour, I was nervous. We rushed back to the hospital and SUCCESS! I was 5cm dilated and contracting regularly. We called our doula Pam, my friend and doula-in-training Madison, and were admitted to have a baby. However, the rest of his labor moved so slowly. Family and friends were convinced we had forgotten to let them know he had arrived. I walked around the halls feeling little to no pain with contractions and cried to Pam and Parker over the fear of being sent home. They laughed at me, as the last cervical check had revealed I was 8cm dilated. I was so confused... this labor was SO different. I got in the tub, like I had with the other boys, expecting things to pick up, but they slowed down. So, I got back out and continued walking, lunging, and side-lying in the bed. Then things shifted quickly. I began to feel those familiar feelings.... moaning those familiar sounds... it was the point of no return... this was it! With little warning, as I was on all fours in my hospital bed, with Parker doing his magical forehead mashing pressure point work... I felt Jude's head emerge! Madison and Parker looked down and saw one squished little face as my sweet nurse Ellen helped me flip over and out he came into her hands (she didn't even have time to don gloves... poor thing!). He was beautiful!!!! Chunky cheeks, 7 pounds 11 ounces of perfection! My midwife Michele, who had been by my side almost the whole day had just stepped out to check on her other laboring patient and came in to see a baby on my chest! 2 out of 3 babies delivered with just Parker and I with our nurse!
It was another heart swelling moment when Grandma Sandy and Grandma Jan brought the boys to meet their baby brother! They smelled of IHOP syrup and were even sweeter in my hospital bed as Parker and I took in... THREE BOYS! Welcome to the world, my little rule breaker! Jude Decker you are LOVED!
