Asher and the umbilical cord necklace

Asher was born on January 8th at 1:11 pm. He weighed 9 lbs 12 oz and was 21 inches long.

I was originally due on January 2nd, but went 6 days overdue. This was my second child and by the time my induction date rolled around I was so anxious about how big this little boy was going to be.

We had jokingly started calling him Ash McDash before he was born, but as the days went by and he refused to make a move I told my husband he was going to be Ash McLast instead. I was scheduled to be induced on January 8th, at 5 am. My husband was thrilled.

I was already 3 1/2 cm and 80% effaced when we arrived at the hospital (and had been for the last 3 weeks) so it didn't take long for the pitocin to kick in. They started the drip at 6:15, broke my water at little after 7, and I think I made it until 11 before caving and getting an epidural. I didn't have one with my daughter, mostly because I have a fear of them after a botched spinal tap in high school. But, oh man, the pain this time around was insane. I wasn't dilating past 4 cm and I was worried I would ne too worn out to push. I apparently don't do "contractions" with breaks in between. I would have a contraction, but even between contractions it would feel like everything was on fire. I also am one of those lucky people who throws up during labor (both times...yay?) At least this time I was expecting it and told the nurses it would probably happen. The epidural completely knocked out all sensation for me, to the point that I didn't know when I was having a contraction at all. Within an hour or so of getting the epidural I was fully dilated and just had to wait for my doctor so I could push. During that time baby's heart rate dropped to they came in and turned me and everything was fine again.

My doctor came in, everything was set up and we went for a practice push. It was very weird to be pushing and not able to feel it. I went for my first real push and my doctor very casually turned to the tech behind her and said something and then turned around and I'm suddenly being turned from one side to the other and it's gone from good job to keep pushing, take a breath push harder, don't stop keep going. Baby boy was out and laid on me, not crying and blue. My husband was instantly told to cut the cord and he was taken over by the nurses. At which point my doctor casually told me he had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, and was "just a little too blue". Luckily they were able to get him taken care of quickly and he was crying and pink. He has a birthmark that runs from his forehead down his nose to his chin, had some facial bruising and swelling that has already healed, and a burst blood vessel in one eye. I am so grateful that I "caved" and got that epidural, because of that I was able to get him out in 4 pushes. I don't like to think what could have happened if I were exhausted from being in pain and not able to get him out so quickly. Yes, I tore. I also had the spinal headache that is the reason I was terrified of having and epidural in the first place. Apparently I'm also one of the lucky few that a blood patch doesn't work on. But I would deal with the headache and all that came with in a hundred times over again just to make sure my baby boy is ok.