Welcome, Baby Roman!

We had a bit of a surprise on Friday!

Roman Bradley Woodward

was given to us on January 29, 2010 at 8:11 p.m., weighing 6 pounds, 3 ounces. He is 19.7 inches long.

I had been having mild contractions throughout the night on Thursday, but nothing regular or exciting. Friday I woke up and had lost my mucous plug. With Rebecca, 7 hours after I lost my plug, she was here- so I was pretty sure the baby was coming soon.


However, the contractions stopped around 10 a.m. My girlfriend Krista brought me her birthing ball just in case, and I begged my husband to let me run some errands. He was apprehensive, knowing how fast Rebecca had come, but I assured him that the contractions had stopped and for heaven's sake, my due date was 8 days away, and surely the baby would not be so bold as to come before my baby shower, which was supposed to be Saturday at 11:30 a.m.(Here are the flowers and cookies from the cancelled shower that my dear sister-in-law brought to me in the hospital. Babies don't listen to rules).

So I ran some errands and came back home. While the children rode bikes around our street, I walked some laps. My contractions started back up again, and providentially, my husband's truck rolled down our street as the contractions increased in intensity and frequency. I was still in denial that this could possibly be real labor. Thankfully, Beau kept our walk confined to our street, because pretty soon, we decided we should call the hospital.

I went inside to shower and pack my bag and Beau called Jessie and my dad to come be with the kids. While packing and preparing, my water broke! That had never happened before, and I was quite thankful to be at home. Now we knew we had to go to the hospital. The reinforcements appeared, and Beau and I left for the hospital.

It was strange this time to be driving in broad daylight, chatting peacefully away. Jackson's birth brought us to the hospital at midnight. We raced to the hospital in a panic with Rebecca while I was in transition labor. This time, my contractions had stopped again and I was feeling a little silly that we were actually going to the hospital. But rules are- water breaks, go to the hospital. Plus, I tested positive for Group B Strep, so I was going to need two doses of antibiotics spaced four hours apart. So we went to Mercy Southwest.

We checked in around 2: 00 and the nurses took my history, making me sit the whole time.

The nurse asked me about pain medication.

"What is your acceptable level of pain?"

I shook my head stubbornly. "I don't want any medication, unless there is a big problem. No epidural, please. So I guess...level 10"?

The nurse looked at me. "Well, a '10' means you have passed out from pain, Jennifer."

"Let's say '9', then", I replied sheepishly.

I wanted to walk and move and restart my contractions, but I was not allowed to move until about 4 pm.

I got my antibiotics and then was given permission to pace the maternity ward. We probably made about 40 laps around the floor before I went into harder labor.

A sweet friend brought us magazines and coffee for Beau during our walking time, so I was able to read a sewing magazine while I got my second dose of antibiotics.

And if you've had a baby, you know the rest. The pain, as God promises, is intense- nearly overwhelming! My nurse let me stand up to labor, so I was able to lean over onto a raised bed. Beau is an amazing birth attendant, quite intuitive and a calming influence. He coached me through the rough contractions and let me squeeze the ever-lovin' heck out of his fingers as I passed through transition.

As we neared the end, I said I needed to push, and Beau told me that I had to wait one more contraction before they called the doctor. So we waited one more contraction, and I told the nurse I was going to push no matter what.

So I did. Twice.

And out came the baby.

And in came the doctor.

That makes two out of three times that the doctor has missed delivering my baby. When they are ready to arrive, they arrive quickly! But the nurses did a wonderful job and we had a healthy baby.

Then I got a reward. I had not been able to commit to a name for our son, so my husband took charge. He had me give him a list of names I liked. Then he wrote two names on a piece of paper and brought it with us to the hospital. He told me he would look at the baby and christen him with a name after he was born. After the delivery process was complete, I asked for his name and Beau looked at his list. Then he looked at the baby and gave him his name.

Roman Bradley Woodward.

I love it.


We got to go home the next day at three. We are very happy to be here. : )