Sept 27, Jackson's Birthday!

8:00 am Brooke follows Ashley to the laundry room on a Sunday morning. Suddenly Ashley has a intense contraction and doubles over. Brooke says “What’s wrong mommy?” “I’m having a bad contraction – go tell Dad to start a hot bath for me.”

8:15 am Ashley is standing in bath and screaming out during contractions. The hot water has already been taken by the washing machine, so no relief from the bathtub.

8:30 am Brooke says “Daddy, we need to say a prayer for Mommy that her contractions won’t hurt too bad.” Meanwhile Livy is pretty oblivious that her world is about to flip upside down.

8:45 am Ashley yells “Ben, we need to go to the hospital call my mom!”

9:00 am Grandma Megan comes to pick up the girls. During the middle of a contraction, Ashley mutters something about where to find Livy’s socks…typical super mom.

9:15 am We arrive at the hospital. Wonderful nurse named Lisa taking care of us. Ashley is already dialated to a 9! They quickly hook Ashley up to an IV, then the anesthesiologist walks right in to get her an epideral…Phew!

9:45 am After more contractions, Ashley’s water breaks. Some fluid comes gushing out. Ben is standing at the bedside holding Ashley’s hand. When the nurse checks her, suddenly Ben feels faint. He grabs a chair and sits down, is completely pale, and in a cold sweat. Lisa yells over the intercome “Orange Juice! Stat! Husband needs help!” Other nurses rush in with orange juice and crackers for Ben, and one nurse snaps an ammonia packet in his face to bring him back to life. After a nutritious breakfast, Ben is back on his feet to support his wife.

10:00 am Ashley starts to feel the need to push. We give it a go. Some progress is made, but baby is getting stuck at the pelvic bone. Lisa is encouraging with her comments of “He moved a little bit.” Translation – he is in the exact same spot as before. After about an hour, we lower the stirrups to give Ashley a rest and see if the baby will move down on his own with more contractions.

11:00 am Dr. Wong comes in to check Ashley. She explains that if the baby does not move past the pelvic bone, then we’ll need to do a C-section. You can literally see the wind taken out of Ashley’s sails. She is so discouraged and dreads having a C-section. She begins to pray more intensely in her heart.

11:15 am Ben and Grandpa Forrest give Ashley a priesthood blessing. Ben feels prompted to bless Ashley that her body will be strong and that it will open up and relax to let the baby pass through the birth canal. All thoughts are positive and we focus our faith.

11:50 am Ashley straps up the legs and begins her second round of pushing. Slowly progress is made…baby inches forward, then back, then forward even farther. Lisa is so encouraging – a perfect personality fit for Ashley. Ashley is getting tired but pushes on.

12:30 pm Ben can now see baby’s head pretty clearly now. Neither Lisa nor Dr. Wong can tell which direction his head is, but they think he is face down…normal…good. Ashley is getting tired. Now when baby begins to crown, she screams at the doctor “JUST PULL HIM OUT. PLEASE!!! PULL HIM OUT!” She doubts she can do it. Baby is right on pelvic bone but not completely past it yet.

12:50 pm Baby is pretty much past the pelvic bone, just needs one or two more pushes. Ashley is spent, she is breaking down after each set of contractions. Her prayers are now vocalized “Please God! Help me!” Both Ashley and Ben are in tears but keep hoping.

12:54 pm Ashley is at her strengths’ end. Here comes another contraction. 4 nurses are in the room. Dr. Wong is in the catching position. Ashley curls up to push, nurses are all giving advice, Ben is shouting “PUSH! C’MON ASHLEY! PUSH!” Screams from Ashley. Suddenly the baby’s head is out. He’s face up! And his head is HUGE! Ben can’t believe it came out such a small opening – there is no way it could fit through – especially with those massively chubby cheeks. Shoulders come through okay without breaking the clavical. Rest of baby slips out.

12:55 pm Baby Jackson’s official birth time. His head has a huge cone on his right side. His face is a little blue. Ashley yells “His face is blue…breathe…BREATHE!” He’s just fine…he lets out a cry. Ashley is totally relieved and smiles through her tears. She is finally holding him on her tummy.

12:56 pm They place this chunker on the scale. Numbers ring up to 5.296 kg. A nurse quickly calculates – 11 lbs. 11 ounces! Everyone is in awe. Later the nurses tell us that between all of them and the doctor, this is the biggest vaginally delivered baby any of them have ever seen! They all want a picture with him later.

After the whole experience, we just feel incredibly blessed to have Jackson here with us safe and sound. It's so fun to watch Brooke and Livy beg to hold him. Brooke can't get enough, and Livy follows suit by simply saying "Please Mommy" and holding out her arms to take Jackson.