Luke's Birthstory

I have had the opportunity to photograph two births, but I wasn't certain if I wanted a photographer at one of my deliveries. I ended up deciding to have a photographer and I am sooooooooooo glad that I did. I love that we have these pictures of such a life changing moment in our life.

Here's the story in pictures, followed by the story in words. Don't worry, the words and pictures won't be too graphic.

Luke was born three weeks earlier than his due date. I hoped and expected he would be a little early, but I was not expecting three weeks early. The day before Luke was born I walked to school to pick Ben up. On the way home I was thinking that maybe it wasn't such a good idea that I walked, as I was really hurting. The next morning I ran a few errands and I was feeling a lot of physical pressure and a sense of really needing to take care of some things.

In the afternoon I went to my doctor's appointment. The nurse said they didn't need to check my progression as they had checked it the week before, but she said they could check if I wanted. Since I had felt like things were going on I asked to be checked. The week before I was dilated to a two and 70% effaced. The doctor, not wanting me to get my hopes up, told me that many women stay at a two for weeks and I was only 37 weeks. He was actually surprised that I was dilated to a four and 80% effaced, on the verge of active labor.

The doctor told me that this time around I was Strep B positive (I wasn't with my two other boys) which meant I needed to have IV antibiotics starting about four hours before I delivered. When I had Jack I dilated from a five to a ten in twenty minutes. Needless to say the doctor was a little worried, so was I. He said he wanted to send me to the hospital right then, but couldn't because I was only 37 weeks along. But he stripped my membranes and told me if I went to the hospital of my own accord he would tell them not to send me home. He told me not to worry about the Strep B too much because they can do things after the baby is born if necessary.

I left the doctors office and ran a few errands. I was having contractions pretty regularly but they didn't hurt. I went to my sisters house and after taking with her, my aunt, and my friend Kristi I decided to go to the hospital.

At 5:30 we went to the hospital and just over six hours later Luke was born. I progressed in labor without Pitocin, so it was good I went to the hospital when I did. I got an epidural around 8:30 and other then a few minutes when my blood pressure dropped, and I felt like I was going to throw up an pass out, the labor and delivery was easy. I only had to push four times.

And just like that, our little Luke entered the world and I wasn't very surprised when Chad told me it was a boy.

On with the show

The other day I was at my doctors office for a follow-up visit. While waiting for the doctor I could hear the sound of a baby' s heartbeat in utero coming from another room and I had the thought, "wow, I am sad I am not pregnant anymore." What?!!! For me, being pregnant was not fun, it hurt a lot this time around and I couldn't wait to not be pregnant anymore. I was so lucky to have a healthy baby three weeks early and not have to go through the last few weeks of pregnancy. I love the feeling of physical relief right after having a baby. I love the first couple of weeks of not being pregnant anymore when I can sleep on my back again. I love not having to get up five and six times a night to use the bathroom. And although I am be woken up multiple times a night to feed a baby, in between those feedings I sleep. Really good.

After having Ben I was in a lot of pain for months. After having Jack I felt good for a few hours and then I was hit with a spinal headache. I couldn't sit up for ten days. When Chad went back to work I had to crawl around on the floor to take care of Ben and Jack. I couldn't stand up or the pain in my head and neck would intensify. It was an awful experience.

Luke's delivery was awesome! I got an epidural and I only had to push four times. Physically I have felt amazing the past six weeks. Emotionally, it's another story. I suffer from post partum depression. Although it's not a secret and this time around I've talked with people a lot more about it, it's embarrassing to me. And it's debilitating. I took preemptive measures this time to lessen the severity, but it didn't work like I hoped. After a few weeks a change of medicine has made a difference and things are looking up.

The decision to have a third child was difficult because of my struggles with post partum depression. I tempted fate once again, so our third child will likely be our last. I think that is the reason why I felt a little sad at the doctor's office that I wasn't pregnant anymore. Growing babies is an amazing experience. And although it wasn't exactly fun and it hurt, it's not really all the bad compared to the responsibility of raising children. That's the hard part.

Little Luke

Three weeks early, our newest little boy, Luke Prestley joined our family. He was born at 11:37pm on March 2. (Birthdate-3/2/11. Awesome!) He weighed in at 8 lbs 9 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. Apparently I can't grow small babies, even when they are born three weeks before their due date.

Luke has quite a bit of hair, and it's blond. Ben and Jack had hair that was a little darker when they were born. He has long blond eyelashes, that are already starting to darken. Here's lots of pictures of our nummy little boy-

The delivery went awesome. (I will write more about it later.) I am still feeling a little blindsided by the fact that he is already here. We were expecting him to be early, but not three weeks early. My prediction about being the mother of three boys came true. Ben was excited to have another brother and although Jack is excited he asked if I could have a girl the next time.

A few people have asked about his name middle name, Prestley. It's not like Elvis Presley (notice no T). Prestley is my great grandpa's middle name and my Grandma's brother's name. A couple of months ago, I asked my Grandma if she had any suggestions for boy names. She told me her nephew has a son named, Luke Prestley, and she liked that. And that was exactly the name we were thinking of when I asked her for suggestions.