Walker's Birth Story

So - Thursday afternoon - Aaron and I went to the pool for about an hour just to relax and hang out. He said he wanted to take me on a date and walk around the mall...wow - what fun!

We went to Cafe Lazio - a little Italian restaurant in Hoover, and of course I ordered the Eggplant Parmesan. I noticed at the pool that my mild contractions had moved a little into my back...but didn't think much about it! Well - after dinner we went to Dick's Sporting Goods and walked around until they closed. By the time we got home, the contractions were more noticeable, and there was def. a pattern.

So I began to time my contractions using iContraction on my iPhone. I did this ALL night and slept in 4-5 minute intervals. The contractions were tough - but Aaron would press his fist or forearm into my back and it would ease some of the pain. By 6am they were 1:15 long and spaced about 5 minutes apart. we debated for a while about calling family because I wanted to make FOR SURE that this was the real thing!

After talking to our doula, and calling the doc office we decided to head to the hospital at about 9:30am. Sure enough I was dilated to a 4 and 90% effaced. That was a miracle to me seeing as how less than 24 hours ago I was 1cm and not thinned out at all.

We were pit in a room, and on the monitor. I was totally mobile throughout the entire labor, so i could walk around, use the big ball, and move as I needed. I labored until 4pm, got to 8cm, and my water broke.

This time was by far the most intense thing I have ever experienced. I would have NEVER made it that far without Aaron. He was a STAR! I drew so much strength from him for very contraction, through every breath and every moment. I have honestly never experienced so much love between us in my life. It was incredible.

So i was checked at 8cm, the baby was still pretty high and my contractions were nearly unbearable. Then - literally all of a sudden...everything stopped. The contractions stopped, the dilation stopped, and my cervix began to swell. I was so tired and wasn't sure that I could go on any longer without medication. Aaron and I decided to go ahead and start pitocin, and take an epidural.

Once the epidural was administered, I got a ton of relief. The pitocin started my contractions back, but nothing progressed. The baby was still high - and as far as they could tell, he was stuck. Just not moving down at all. I remember feeling my stomach - and he was still very high. After praying about it, talking with each other, our doula, the nurse and the doctor, we all agreed that going to c-section would be the best option.

So the prepped me, wheeled me in at 7:00pm, Aaron came in and sat by my head the entire time. He told me how proud of me he was, how great I had done, and just comforted me through the surgery. He said that was the hardest part for him of the whole day. I can only imagine. So 14 minutes later - Walker Monroe Zakeri was brought into the world at 8lbs 13 oz 21.25"!

He was healthy, aside from an incredible cone head that he developed from being stuck. The doctor said he would have never come down - he was just too big.

we were wheeled into recovery for an hour - got to bond, nurse and just enjoy some alone time with our son.

All in all I am so thankful for how things turned out. I wasn't induced, I experienced labor with my husband to the FULLEST, and in the end - we have a healthy baby boy to nurture and care for! These pictures are in reverse order - but hey...you get the point! I'll post more pics later - possibly between feeding and napping:)