Well, I’ve been a mom now for 6 weeks and 5 days. I am the happiest I have been in years because I am so in love with my little guy. I love being a mom. That being said, it is really hard to find time to myself so this blog has been neglected. I’m going to try to rectify this.
I think the best way to introduce my new little bundle of joy is to share with you the story as many people experienced it – from Twitter. My labour ended up being 37 hours in total, so my husband had plenty of opportunities to tweet the story as we went. This is a birth story for the internet age in the words of my husband:
Looks like I’m not going to work today. I’ve got better things to do. #MyWifesWaterJustBroke
Fun things to do while wife is in labour #1: copy movies and tv shows onto laptop so you have something to do for the next 15 hours.
We have arrived. Now we just need the baby to arrive. (@ IWK Hospital) http://4sq.com/9VLASD
#HolyCrapWifesInLabour Nurse warns “just so you know we don’t offer any exchanges or returns.”
Fun things to do while your wifes in labor #2: bust a groove to the rythmic beats of your babies heart monitor. Running Man FTW!!
Fun things to do while your wifes in labor #3: go home, watch tv and wait for more contractions. We’re being sent home.
Contractions are 9 minutes or so apart. #HurryUpAndGetHereBaby
Been 30 minutes since the last contraction. Maybe the baby snuck out with nobody noticing. Sneaky baby.
Contractions are erratic and spread out. Big change from the 9 minute apart thing we had going earlier. Dr. will induce her if morning comes
Fun things to do when your wife’s in labour #4: Take a nap on the lazy boy. I slept like a….baby.
Fun things to do when you’re wifes in labour #5: Invite friends over for supper. No seriously…we just did that. It’s going to be take-out.
It’s a strange experience watching your wife have a contraction. There’s not really anything you can do to help. #InLabour
Wife has been in labor since just before 7am. We’re still chillin at home. Contractions are between 6 and 12 mins apart.
Contractions are 2-4 minutes apart. Looks like we’re having a baby! (@ IWK Hospital) http://4sq.com/9VLASD
Homeward bound again. Despite 3 minute apart contractions. #CrazyLongDelivery
Hour 23 of labour. My wife is nothing short of amazing.
Fun things to do while your wife’s in labour #6: Roll up the rim to win. Donut!
Hour 25 of labour. They’re going to induce any minute now. Wife is enjoying her morphine.
@reply to someone yup past her due date. I think a new rotation started at 7am, so they were waiting for staffing change.
Hrmmm…this labour may last longer than my Blackberry battery. Wife is signing all the consent forms. Still waiting 4 induction to start.
Fun things to do while your wifes in labour #7: have random chats with other men in birth unit. “How many cm’s is yours?” “Not enough.”
Fun things to do while your wifes in labour #8: laugh at yourself for having to be corrected multiple times, today is NOT Sunday.
Fun things to do while your wifes in labour #9: watch your foot twitch from all the tim hortons you’ve been having. *twitch* *twitch*
Induction medicine seems to be working, contractions are getting close together again, 1st time since we sipped from the morphine fountain.
We just passed 28 hours of labour. 28 hours! Jack Bauer saves the world in less time than that.
Looks like I’m going to be wrong. I bet on 11:22am as baby’s arrival. Won’t be that soon. What’s your guess?
We’re at 5cm. Which sucks, because we started at 3cm 28hrs ago. Poor wifey. Such a trooper.
Epidural is on its way. Feels like we’re getting a visit from a minor celebrity! Oh the anticipation! Oh the excitement!
I think our anesthesiologist is Doogie Howser. Seriously, does he have a drivers license?
Dr. Doogie successfully jabbed Epi in wifes back. He and all the IWK staff have been awesome.
@reply to someone lots of contractions…just not much dialtion. Baby’s reluctant to come out.
Found on wall of birthing room, record of bad babies. http://tweetphoto.com/13451644
@reply to someone apparently been a busy place. All birthing rooms were in use last night. Walking the halls sounded like a horror movie.
Fun things to do while your wifes in labor #10:use the bathroom across the hall, the one with a broken lock. Prepare to shout “SURPRISE!”
@reply to someone nope. The nurse joined our guessing pool, she thinks “before 7”..but that’s when her shift ends, so perhaps not impartial.
The epi pump machine broke. “I’ve never seen this happen before”..just what you want to hear. Doogie needs to come back, machine is now off.
@reply to someone a wanted sign posted in corner. The ultrasound image looks suspiciously like ours…
30 hours of labour. I’m exhausted but refuse to complain…except over Twitter.
Wife is managing to score some light Z’s now that tempermental Epi machine has been quelled.
@reply to someone contractions continue to progress well, thanks to magical elixer being piped into her.
Wifes doctor just visited. She says we’re still hours away. …super. I mean, we’ve only been in labour 31 hours. What’s a few more?
We’re at 8 centimeters!! We get to push at 10cm. Labour is finally feeling like its coming along!
I scored a 1 hour nap on “the chair.” Feeling SO much better!
@reply to someone she got some rest earlier. She’s been so great all day.
Fully dialated! We get to start pushing. I’ve been told no more tweeting until baby arrives. Exciting!
It’s a boy!!!!!
Baby’s breastfeeding like a pro. Everyones healthy. 8lbs 7oz, 20″ tall and handsome as can be. Thnx everyone for hanging with us!
Say hello to Cameron Willard Harry O’Rourke. A happy sleepy baby. http://tweetphoto.com/13526160
Fun things to do while your wife’s not in labour #1: Sleep.
37 hours! You are by far tougher than me haha. With Kayden I was in labour for just shy of 19 hours and Rebecca was just 13 hours. Rebecca wasn't bad and the labour went by fast but Kayden seemed to take forever to come out! He is such a handsome little man! Glad you're enjoying motherhood so far..just watch out for those terrible two's haha.
PS- Loved the Twitter updates haha I don't have twitter but was able to see them through facebook when it was all happening haha.
What a great gift it was for me to be there with you through some of that – and Dan was/is so right Laura my love, you are a trooper and baby Cameron is beautiful, (which I will have to stop saying….he's handsome – sounds like such an "old" thing to say)regardless – what a joy he is and I'm glad for this time you guys have together.